Local Teens Participate in 2007-08 Student Rotarian Program

Participating teenagers include (left to right): Julia Martin (Hinsdale H.S.), Heather Johnson (Hinsdale H.S.), Trevor Ritter (Windham Regional Career Center), Katherine Derby (Windham Regional Career Center), Tessera Knowles-Thompson (BUHS) and Tiffany Finch-Haynes (BUHS). Missing from the photo are Leland & Gray Union High School students Carrie Attley and Declan Doyle. Students from the Austine School had not yet been named at press time.

Offered to area high school juniors and seniors as part of Rotary's commitment to youth service, the Brattleboro Rotary Club's Student Rotarian Program is designed to give high school students the opportunity to experience Rotary firsthand, and to give Rotarians the opportunity to relate to high school students at a peer level.

"This is the twelfth year that the Brattleboro Rotary Club has invited area students to join the club during the school year. Over the past dozen years, 191 teens have participated as Student Rotarians," said Fred Moriarty, Brattleboro Rotary Club member and coordinator of the Student Rotarian Program.

Each Student Rotarian will attend ten luncheon Rotary meetings throughout the school year and will participate in Rotary community service projects.

Student Rotarians are called upon at each meeting to give a brief report about what is happening at their respective schools including academics, concerts, sports, school activities, personal activities, or any other interesting information. They also benefit from the presentation by different speakers at each meeting on topics of local interest.

Participation is offered every year to students from local high schools, including Brattleboro Union High School, the Windham Regional Career Center, the Austine School, Hinsdale High School, and Leland and Gray Union High School.

Students are selected for the program by their schools using whatever means each school's administration deems appropriate. There are no academic or honors prerequisites.

"Student Rotarians are treated like any other Rotarian -- with respect, fellowship, and a sense of humor," said Moriarty.

For more information about the Student Rotarian Program, please contact Fred Moriarty at 603-363-4100 or crewoods@sover.net.