The Rotary Club of Westerville recognized its October 2023 Students of the Month during its weekly luncheon Thursday, Oct. 5, held at the Otterbein Campus Center.
An extended question-and-answer session with the four impressive students, following their self-introductions, provided the program for the week.
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.
The October 2024 Students of the Month were: Paxson Toth from Westerville Central, Eyon Robinson from Westerville North, Nabiha Ilkaqor from Westerville South, and Lily Hartman from St. Francis DeSales.
October 2023 Honoree Profiles
Westerville Central: Paxson Toth’s favorite subjects are science and engineering. The senior is a member of the National Honor Society, Symphonic Band, Marching Band, Key Club, Westerville Crew and WCHS Superintendent Advisory Council. He is a Hope Squad student leader, volunteers for Westerville Challenger Baseball and works for Aqua Tots in Westerville. Among the awards and achievements he’s received: honor roll and WCHS Student of the Month. He was nominated for the Ohio Wesleyan Honor Band in 2022. He is interested in studying mechanical engineering at the University of Cincinnati, Miami University and the University of Dayton.
Westerville North: Eyon Robinson’s favorite subjects are science and Language Arts. The senior is part of the Student Council, The Warrior Way Leadership Summit, Big Warrior Little Warrior Mentoring program, Black Student Union, Assistant Principal Advisory Committee, Superintendent Advisory Committee, Boys Mentoring (middle school boys), Hope Squad, All N team member, WALT, National Honor Society and a Class Officer. He also plays for the school’s basketball and track teams. He also competes in the midwest basketball AAU team, serves as a Chapel North Youth Leader and works at Henri’s Cloud Nine. Among the awards and achievements he’s received: Ohio Capital Conference special mention, Defensive Player of the Year and OCC champion — all for basketball. He was also recognized for Academic Excellence in math, Language Arts, social studies and world language. He is interested in attending Cleveland State University, Ohio State University or Ohio University to study nursing. He hopes to work at an ICU before studying to become a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetic. “I would like to thank God, my family and pastors for helping me become the young adult I am today. I would also like to thank the Westerville North staff and administration for giving me many different opportunities throughout my experiences in high school and to thank them for voting for me to be on this stage today.”
Westerville South: Nabiha Ilkaqor’s favorite subjects are International Baccalaureate English and International Baccalaureate Theatre. The senior is a Hope Squad student leader, Class of 2024 President, Student Council member and a WSHS Black History Month Leader. She launched the Power to Poets student organization and is part of the WSHS Superintendent Advisory Council and Battle Of The Books team. She is the state board president with the Ohio Association of Student Leaders and is part of an advisory board for the Ohio Department of Education about student mental health and bridging the gap between schools and families. Among the awards and achievements she has received: Cats with Class, Battle of the Books state champions, ScienceSpectrum writing contest winner and Character Education Award. She plans to study political science and foreign relations with minors in French and creative writing. “I am thrilled to have been chosen for the rotary student of the month. I am going to further my leadership skills to become a congresswoman and rule the world.” #nabihasquad
St. Francis DeSales: Lily Hartman’s favorite subjects are English and psychology. The senior is National Honor Society president, Drama Club officer, a choir officer, blood drive coordinator and student council representative. She also runs a secret activity within the school called Finders Keepers and is a member of DeSales’ swim team. She also serves as a Special Olympics coach, a math tutor and a volunteer at Our Lady of Consolation Shrine in Carey. Among the awards and achievements she has received: honor roll, varsity letter for swim and athletic training and Student Council star. She is interested in attending Miami University, Ohio State University, West Virginia University or Walsh University to study exercise and sports psychology and eventually earning a degree in counseling.
CAPTION (above photo): From left-2022-23 Rotary Club of Westerville President Katrina Plourde, DeSales senior Lily Hartman, WCHS senior Paxson Toth, WNHS senior Eyon Robinson, WSHS senior Nabiha Ilkaqor 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!