For more than two decades of dedicated and impactful community service, Tracy Davidson was honored by the Rotary Club of Westerville with its A. Monroe Courtright Volunteer Service Award on Thursday, April 24.
The Courtright Award is the highest honor bestowed by the service club on a member of the public. Courtright was a charter member of the Rotary Club of Westerville. The local developer and longtime owner of Westerville’s former community newspaper, The Public Opinion, was known for his public advocacy of community issues as well as his private – often anonymous – local philanthropy.
The award was created in 1977 upon Courtright’s untimely death. He was serving as the Club president at the time. Davidson, past president and 12-year member of the Westerville Board of Education, is the 49th annual recipient of the award.
In presenting the award, John Oleyar, chairman of the Rotary club’s Courtright Committee, remarked on the similarities between Davidson and Courtright, and many former recipients of the award, of selfless service to the Westerville community.
“In the years I’ve participated with the award committee, I’ve noticed that many of our honorees follow the same pattern as Monroe,” Oleyar said.
“You may know them. You may know of some of their achievements. But they don’t talk much about the totality of their accomplishments. That’s very much true of this year’s honoree” Tracy Davidson, he said.
Two community members who nominated Davidson for the award spoke at the Courtright Award presentation April 24.
Longtime school district volunteer Nancy McFarland remarked on Davidson’s 25-year history of service to the district, starting at Emerson Elementary PTA, the Blendon Middle School PTA, Westerville South Academic Boosters, Westerville Parent Council and the Board of Education.
Davidson joined the Westerville Education Challenge organization in 2008, and has been a key leader of the group since, working to fundraise for mental health initiatives in the district. She also founded The Big Bus, a mobile tutoring program that seeks to serve underprivileged and immigrant students in the school district, in 2021.
“I can’t imagine how many lives Tracy has touched through her volunteer service in Westerville,” McFarland said. “There are approximately 14,600 students in Westerville City Schools. Her decisions on the School Board directly benefitted these students. All the extra hours she has spent on PTAs, Parent Council, Westerville Education Challenge and The Big Bus have touched thousands and thousands of students and families in Westerville.”
“Tracy is an outstanding person and citizen of Westerville. She works every day to make Westerville a great place to raise a family. She is family oriented and child-centered. She wants all the children of Westerville to receive a great education and have a wonderful experience while in Westerville Schools. Tracy wants each child to feel seen and heard in their schools. She has accomplished this through her work on the School Board, PTAs, Parent Council, WEC, and The Big Bus,” McFarland said.
Tami Cole-Santa, executive director of student services in the Westerville school district, also nominated Davidson for the Courtright Award.
Cole-Santa detailed Davidson’s extensive volunteer involvement with the middle school MODEL program to mentor middle school girls.
“Over the life of this program, she played an integral role in fostering a generation of more confident, resilient, and motivated young people. By providing students with guidance and mentorship during their formative years, our dedicated mentors like Tracy helped create a strong foundation for their academic success and personal growth, benefiting not just the students but the entire community,” Cole-Santa said.
“Tracy’s ability to inspire and lead by example has not only enhanced the lives of over 200 students but has also created a ripple effect throughout the community, encouraging others to volunteer and contribute to the well-being of our youth. This is only ONE example of her selfless gift of service,” she added.
“For all these reasons and more, Tracy is truly deserving of this award. Her exceptional dedication and impact on the students she has mentored will continue to resonate for years to come. Westerville is a stronger community because of her dedication, leadership and care,” Cole-Santa said.
Davidson accepted the award at the April 24 ceremony at The Medallion Club, also accompanied attended by her husband, Mark, and longtime friend Sherri Blais.
PHOTO CAPTION (ABOVE): From left, 2024-25 Rotary Club of Westerville President Brandy Deichert, nominator Tami Cole-Santa, 2025 Courtright Award honoree Tracy Davidson, nominator Nancy McFarland and Rotary Courtright Committee Chairman John Oleyar.
The Rotary Club of Westerville
Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of business professionals and leaders working to improve our community and larger world. We are part of Rotary International. Find out more at WestervilleRotary.com. Contact the Club and learn how to join at www.www.westervillerotary.com/contact-form. Read more about the Rotary International organization at Rotary.org.
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