The Rotary Club of Westerville recognized its January 2024 Students of the Month during its Jan. 11 luncheon meeting at The Medallion Club. Throughout the school year, from October through May, the Club honors four students from local high schools each month. 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.
January 2024 Honoree Profiles
Westerville Central: Luna-Isabella Bernal’s favorite subjects are math and science. The senior is vice president of the Spanish Club and plays with a seasonal music organization group called Chamber Music Connections, when she is co-designing and planning the set of a show for an All-Ohio theatre production in Toledo that will open in March. She is also part of a student-led show at WCHS. She has been awarded multiple academic achievements for school. She is interested in studying architecture or film and media studies at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, University of Cincinnati, Kent State University or Colorado. “I am very honored to have been given this award and I just want to remind others to spread kindness when you can because it can really make a difference. :)”
Westerville North: Safia Raki’s favorite subjects are English, psychology and all of her science classes. The senior is a co-director of the school’s Black History Month Program, a Hope Squad student leader, a leader in the Warrior to Warrior tutoring program, as well as a member of Young Feminists Club, Book Club, and National Honor Society. She competes in the golf and swim teams and volunteers at WARM and the Westerville Public Library. She has received the College Board AP Scholar Award, various WNHS scholar athlete awards and academic excellence awards in all subjects. She plans to study neuroscience and is undecided on a college although she is interested in Ohio State University. “I would like to thank the Rotary for this opportunity and my school and its administrators for selecting me. I also would like to thank my parents because without them I would not be where I am today.”
Westerville South: Nancy Obuba’s favorite subjects are biology and psychology. The senior is involved in Key Club, Power to Poets Club and National Honor Society. She has volunteered at Mount Carmel Hospital and her church and during her four years at high school has received academic awards for earning a 4.0 GPA. She is interested in studying biology at Johns Hopkins University, New York University and Duke University.
St. Francis Desales: Olivia Sanabria’s favorite subjects are biology and chemistry. The senior is captain of DeSales swim team and girls lacrosse team and served as captain of the girls tennis team. She is a member of National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society and the Mind Over Matter Club. She has participated in a cancer research program through the Ohio State University and the James Cancer Research Hospital, and currently volunteers for the Crawford Crew. She was recognized as a Scholar Athlete by Spectrum News 1. She is studying biochemistry at Ohio State University as a Morrill Scholar. “I am extremely grateful and excited to have been chosen as Rotary Student of the Month.”
CAPTION (above photo): From left-2022-23 Rotary Club of Westerville President Katrina Plourde, WCHS senior Luna-Isabella Bernal, WNHS senior Safia Raki, WSHS senior Nancy Obuba, DeSales senior Olivia Sanabria and Rotary Club Student of the Month 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.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!