The Rotary Club of Beaumont Youth Day and Scholarship Program meeting was held May 7, 2025. Mary Pat Jones presented the Invocation. Mayor Roy West led pledges to U.S. and Texas flags. John Lee conducted Introduction of Guests.

Van Greer, Secretary, presented names of three candidates for Rotary membership received at the May 6 Board meeting. Cheryl Bilyeu, Chair, May 14^th Beaumont Police Department Recognition meeting, reported 92 reservations have already been received from family members and colleagues of the four officers receiving awards.

Leaders from two Interact clubs sponsored by Rotary Club of Beaumont attended the meeting to provide updates from their respective clubs. Sheree Pierce introduced West Brook High School leaders. Hailey Renick, president, shared that 1,500 supplies were collected for international schools, Michelle Heng, secretary, shared details about collaborative recycling efforts with Lamar University and the Christmas toy drive with CASA, Mannan Janus reviewed schoolwide October ‘Sockstober’ sock collection for Some Other Place and thank you notes written to teachers, administrators, and nursing home residents, and Ensley Rao shared their ongoing leadership building activities at the conclusion of every meeting.  Diane Thompson, liaison to Beaumont Early College High School introduced Annabelle Gazaway, President, Kelley Arellano vice president, and Melissa Chapman, faculty liaison. Breast Cancer awareness was conducted during October with morning announcements to wear pink on Fridays, students engaged with pump or needles patients in a Houston hospital by distributing tickets for prizes, and joined Harbor Hospice for a Butterfly Release. Halloween, Christmas and Easter care baskets were collected and given to Harbor Hospice for hospice patients. Teacher appreciation week was conducted during the first week in May, and four students attended RYLA this year. Final exams held at Msgr. Kelly High School and Beaumont United prevented these students from attending our meeting. The Rotary Club of Beaumont Interact presence at all four high schools in our community is amazing as they exemplify “Service Above Self’.

Diane Bass, Scholarship Committee Chair, announced two recipients of a Fall 2025 Rotary Club of Beaumont $8,000 scholarship, Romy Bluitt, Beaumont United High School, attending Texas State University, and Michael Laverne, Jr., Beaumont Early College High School, attending Louisiana State University, Chemical Engineering. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of the Beaumont Rotary Foundation. Ms. Bass also presented the Non-Traditional Scholarship to Ian McClelland, an 8-year Navy veteran, certified paramedic, attending Lamar Institute of Technology. The non-traditional scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing an unconventional educational path such as returning to college several years after graduating high school.

President Michael Perez concluded the meeting with reminders to join Pat Anderson, Flag Chair, in flag distributions this Memorial Day, sign up for May 28^th Rotary Goes Home meetings, and pick up Rotary Club of Beaumont promotional yard signs after the meeting.