The Rotary Club of Westerville recognized its October 2025 Students of the Month during the club luncheon at The Medallion Club Oct. 2.
Throughout the school year, from October through May, the Club honors four students from each local high school. Working with the school principals and counselors, one student each month is chosen from Westerville Central, Westerville North, Westerville South and St. Francis DeSales high schools.
The students, their parents, and the school administrators are introduced and honored at a Rotary Club luncheon each month.
Thank you to Charlie Boss of the Westerville City School District for her write-up on Westerville district children!
October 2025 Honoree Profiles
Westerville Central: Avery Long’s favorite subject is math. The junior is involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Environmental Club and also serves as a Link Crew leader and a Key Club officer. She is involved in her church youth group and volunteers for her church’s Sunday school. She has received multiple awards and accolades including: honor roll, scholar athlete, AP High Five award and a two-time varsity letter winner. She plans to attend Ohio State University to study finance or actuarial sciences.
Westerville North: Phillip Adu-Acheampong’s favorite subjects are science and English. The senior is involved in the Black History Month student show, Black Student Union, jazz band and blues band. He also does service work for his church. He plans to attend Hampton University, Ohio University, the University of Cincinnati or Clark Atlanta University to study chemical engineering.
“I am just thankful for the opportunity to be on the stage and to be given the student of the month award.”
Westerville South: Makenna Tamru’s favorite subjects are math and physics. The senior is involved in volleyball, theatre, Hope Squad, Link Crew, National Honor Society and Power to Poets Club. She also serves as a lab assistant and is an assistant coach for club volleyball and the Westerville Lacrosse Club. Her awards and accolades include: scholar athlete, Cats with Class, academic and varsity letters, We Are the ‘Ville Games Sportsmanship award, College Board National African American Recognition Program, Character Education award, PTO Business Department Excellence award, Girls Lacrosse OCC Scholar Athlete, Director Award Breakthrough, College Board National Top School Recognition Awardee and an AP Scholar with Distinction. She plans to study at Stanford University or Ohio State University to study civil engineering.
St. Francis DeSales: Senior Ava Emmerling is captain of the cross-country team, co-president of Run the Race club, and is a Special Olympics volunteer. She enjoys science and history, is an NHS member, and plans to study neuroscience at Ohio State University.
CAPTION (ABOVE PHOTO): From left – Rotary Club of Westerville 2025-26 President Dave Read, Avery Long of Westerville Central, Phillip Adu-Acheampong of Westerville North, Ava Emmerling of DeSales, Makenna Tamru of Westerville South and Rotary Student of the Month Committee Chairwoman Carol Faulkner.
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.
Interested in joining?
The Rotary Club of Westerville is accepting applications for new membership.
The best way to pursue membership is to contact an existing Club member, and attend one of our lunches or events as her or his guest. Members of the public also are welcome to attend our events on their own, to see what our service club is all about. If possible, please give notice of your intent to attend a luncheon or social by emailing WestervilleRotaryEvents@gmail.com.
We hope to see you soon!