Ahmed Adu-Bediako, a first-grade student in Elizabeth Bushong’s class at Westerville’s Mark Twain Elementary School, has picked the theme for the Rotary Club of Westerville’s 2025 Independence Day Parade: “Stars, Stripes, & Freedom Unite.”
Ahmed’s theme idea was chosen as the winning entry in this year’s annual contest among Westerville elementary students to choose the theme for Westerville’s Independence Day Parade, with is staged by the Rotary Club.
With the winning submission, Ahmed will receive $100 and is invited to ride in a place of honor on the Rotary’s float with a friend or family member during the big State Street parade July 4th.
Representatives from the Rotary Club celebrated Ahmed on Friday, April 25, with a pizza party for his class at Mark Twain. Ahmed with his family also will be honored guests at the club’s weekly luncheon May 22 at the Medallion Club.
Katie Ensell’s third-grade class at Hawthorne Elementary also enjoyed a pizza party with Rotary representatives on April 25. Ensell’s class won the drawing among classes districtwide, in which 100 percent of students submitted an entry in the 2025 Parade Theme Contest.
It begins with a 5K Walk/Run and Kids Run at 7:30 a.m., continues with the State Street parade running from County Line Road south to Electric Avenue beginning at 10:30 a.m., then the Free Concert and Food Truck Festival from 5 to 9:45 p.m. at the Westerville Sports Complex, and culminating with the Westerville Fireworks Display at 10 p.m.
Special thanks to the Westerville City School District for its continuing support of the Rotary Parade Theme Contest, and to district Community Engagement Coordinator Charlie Boss for this story and photo.
CAPTION (ABOVE PHOTO, from left): Rotary Club of Westerville President Nominee John Powell, Ahmed Adu-Bediako – winner of the Parade Theme Contest to choose the theme for the 2025 Westerville Independence Day Parade – and Rotary President-Elect Dave Read. Ahmed’s class received a pizza party from the club April 25, and he with his family will ride in a place of honor in the 2025 Independence Day Parade, aboard the Rotary Club of Westerville float.
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Contact Us
Rotary Club of Westerville
P.O. Box 595
Westerville, OH 43086-0595
Where We Meet:
The Medallion Club
5000 Club Drive
Westerville, Ohio 43082
When:
Thursdays at noon (with Occasional off-site, evening socials)
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Rotary Club of Westerville
(opens in a new tab)Founded in 1959, the Rotary Club of Westerville is a service club of business professionals and community leaders working to improve our community and larger world. Part of Rotary International. Find out more at WestervilleRotary.com @rotary6690
Rotarian Steven D’Ambrosio is the adult volunteer for the I-Can program at Mark Twain! This week, his two high school volunteers, Hallie Parker and Jillian Schlagbaum were in the Halloween spirit as they discussed The Dot!
Usually meeting weekly, Rotary volunteers with the aid of Westerville high school student helpers teach six broad concepts through 25 lessons:
📚Self-Awareness
📚Self-Management
📚Personal Responsibility
📚Decision-Making
📚Relationship Skills
📚Social-Awareness
We are less than two weeks out from our annual “Lasagna To-Go” event! Have you gotten your tickets?
Our Lasagna “Drive Through” event will be held Sunday, November 1st from 11:30A-5:30P at Villa Milano!
For $20 per person, you’ll receive “Milano’s Lasagna”, salad, roll and butter, and dessert.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the Club’s college scholarships which are awarded to well deserving graduates at Westerville’s three public high schools, plus St. Francis DeSales! More than $600,000 in scholarships have been awarded by the Rotary Club of Westerville to date.
Visit westervillerotary.com/rotary-lasagna-to-go for your tickets!
Villa Milano is located at 1630 Schrock Road in Westerville!