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The service that Franklin High School Principal Travis Felts consistently renders to the community did not go unnoticed by the Franklin Lions Club.

During its monthly meeting held on Thursday, April 6, at Franklin Presbyterian Church, the club honored Felts with the Lions Club Charity Award for Public Service.

“It’s something we do every year for a citizen that serves the community very well through public service civic events,” Franklin Lions Club President Mark R. Kitchen said.

He noted that the club took nominations, and Felts was ultimately selected from a pool of five nominees, a group described by Kitchen as full of “great public servants.”

In a Sunday, April 9, interview, Felts shared what it meant to him to receive the honor.

“I am most appreciative and humbled to be chosen to receive this award,” he said. “It is an honor to be recognized by an organization that does so much good for our community.”

Kitchen explained that the Lions Club seeks to help those with vision and hearing difficulties in a variety of ways, including through work in the local schools.

Felts’ public service has come largely in connection with his work in the field of education.

“I have served in public education for 27 years, the last 25 in Franklin City Public Schools,” he said. “I have been a teacher, coach, building administrator and central office administrator during those 27 years.”

He has served as principal of FHS since 2012.

In a recent example of the service for which the Lions Club honored him, Felts participated in a litter pickup in Franklin on Saturday, April 8, helping draw some students to participate as well.

Asked what motivates him to participate in public service, Felts said, “It is definitely the students that I work with and helping them grow into successful, confident and productive citizens. I like to see young people find their passion, work hard to achieve their goals and be proud of themselves for their accomplishments. I really enjoy helping our most challenging students be successful, especially the students who have not had the opportunity to experience success.”