2017-2018 ROTARY THEME-MAKING A DIFFERENCE
We meet Tuesdays at 12:00 PM
Miller's Landing
Miller's Landing
600 13th St S
Humboldt, IA 50548
United States
Humboldt, IA 50548
United States
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The Humboldt Rotary Club honored the Top 20 academic seniors from Humboldt High School at Zion Lutheran Church on Wednesday, May 17th. This is the 56th year for the Rotary Top 20 banquet. Pictured in front from left to right are: Marie Sexe, Kate Curran, Ashley Grainger, Kelsey Peters, Elise Dunscombe, Elizabeth Duffield, Sophia Luu and Jessica Kelley. Second row: Ryan Courtney, Johnathon Wergeland, Abigail Zaugg, Madison Smith, Dillon Kirchhoff, Amanda Ferry, Gus Arnold, Quinton Christensen, Avery Terwilliger, Olivia Hildreth, Kody Harris and Ivan Rasmussen.
Rotary President Aaron Olson opened the ceremony and Rotarian and Superintendent of Schools Greg Darling introduced the speaker.
Guest speaker was Kevin Dresser, a 1981 HHS graduate and now the head wrestling coach at Iowa State University. His message to the graduates was “How to Be Great.”
“You’re already good in the classroom. As you move forward, find something you like and be great at it,” Dresser said. It’s also important to have a plan. He told the graduates they need to be tough. “As you go to college, it’s going to get tougher. Are you tough when it gets tough? “I had a coach tell me adversity weakens the weak and strengthens the strong. That translates into anything in life. The hard things you do teach you more,” Dresser said. He said a lot of young people want to make a lot of money. “The only way to make a lot of money is by doing something you love. I challenge you to keep that attitude,” Dresser said.
The Top 20 Banquet included music provided by students of Mike Blair, and an invocation by Pastor Shonda Deranleau of the Congregational United Church of Christ. The meal was served by the Zion LWML. Principal Lori Westhoff talked about each honoree and assistant principal Greg Thomas handed out certificates.
March Student of the Month
Nick Torkelson is the son of Dave and Joni Torkelson. He is an active member of the Humboldt FFA and has maintained an officer position for the past 3 years. He has also shown cattle and hogs at the Humboldt County Fair. Nick's work experience includes assisting his dad and grandpa on the farm and working as a farm hand for a local cattle farmer. Nick's future plans include attending Iowa State University to major in Ag Business.
February Student of the Month
Drew Thomas is involved in National Honor Society, Student Senate, basketball, football and track as well as a DARE Role Model and a football and basketball coach for the Humboldt Rec youth. He has worked for the Humboldt Country Club as a greenskeeper and in the concession/admissions stands of the Humboldt Family Aquatic Center. His future plans are to attend the University of Iowa and major in business. Drew is the son of Greg and Michelle Thomas.
December Student of the Month
Sophia Luu is involved in concert, marching, and jazz band and the musical pit orchestra. She has been part of the marching band leadership team for 3 years and drum major for 2 years. She has also participated in AllState auditions and state solo and ensemble contests. The past 2 years she has been accepted to participate in the AllState Orchestra. She is also involved in Spanish Club and Battle of the Books. Her community involvement includes playing bass on the Worship Team at Oakhill Church and helping at the Humboldt Arts Festival. You may have seen her previously at Fareway as she was employed there the summer of 2015. Her future plans include attending Iowa State University to major in Apparel, Merchandising and Design and minoring in International Studies. Her parents are Binn and Melanie Luu.
September Student of the Month
Darron Anderson is involved in the Robotics Club, Spanish Club, Battle of the Books, the school musical and play, and Iowa Central Engineering competition. He also participates in Jazz Choir and Jazz Band, Marching Band and Pep Band as well as solo and small ensemble festival competitions. He is presently employed at the Hy-Vee kitchen. His future plans involve studying Robotics in college. He has been accepted at Iowa State University and plans to apply at MIT and Carnegie Mellon University. His parents are Dennis Anderson and Marlise Taggert-Anderson.
The 16th Annual Rotary Fly In/Drive In Breakfast was held on Sunday, August 7, 2016 at the Humboldt Municipal Airport west of town. Gronbach's Grillers cooked the scrambled eggs, sausage, and pancakes while the Rotary Club members helped serve the drinks and clean up the tables. Almost 900 breakfasts were served with 112 plane rides provided. Those in attendance enjoyed watching the 48 guest planes arrive and depart throughout the morning. The featured plane was an Air Tractor spray plane 750 HP turbo jet. Another included a home built Pietenpol WWII replica. Special thanks to Jim Gronbach and his team for their time and equipment, to Tom and Julie Olson for the egg donation, Hy-Vee for the syrup, Doug Bacon for his fuel, Engman Disposal for the dumpster and lastly, Dave and Deb Dodgen for all their time and organization to keep this event running smoothly and successfully. The proceeds from the fly in have been donated to the Kiddie Cat Daycare. This, along with a $5,000 Rotary Club District Grant and additional Humboldt Rotary Club funds, amounted to a $15,000 donation. See photos from the 2016 Fly In saved below in the photo album.
The Humboldt Rotary Club was chartered on February 12, 1925 and the charter meeting was held on March 19, 1925 with 23 members forming the club. The club was sponsored by the Eagle Grove Rotary Club. The Rotary Club has served the Humboldt area for 89 years and perhaps is the oldest service club in Humboldt and Dakota City.
Humboldt Rotary Club is a part of Rotary District 5970 and Rotary International. Rotay International is composed of over 1.2 million members in 34,000 clubs in 200 countries. The motto for Rotary is "Service Above Self".
Over the years, the Rotary Club has been very active in the community. Proceeds from our fund raisers have supported the Humboldt High School Athletic Field entrance, Frank Gotch Memorial Statue, Liberty Fountain, Humboldt Fire Department, Taft Park Ball Diamond Renovation now known as Rotary Field, Drill Team, Spanish Club, Aquatic Center and Humboldt County Memorial Hospital projects. The club also supports the Rotary International program to eradicate polio in the world.
Student recognition, scholarships and low interest loans have been provided by the Humboldt Rotary Club for many years. Annual scholarships totaling $1,500 have been awarded to four seniors based on their school and community involvement, academic achievement, leadership, citizenship, character, service, and financial need. The late Rotarian Harold Grebe has also added two $1,000 scholarships. In 1962 the Top 20 Honors Banquet began through the leadership of the late Rotarians Del Cram and Dr. James Coddington. This banquet honors the top 20 Humboldt High School graduates for academic achievement. The late Rotarian Ray Lindhart started the Lindhart Education Trust in 1972. In addition memorial gifts have been added by the late Rotarians Lester Moffitt and Del Cram. Low interest loans are provided to Humboldt County graduates seeking to continue their education. Through 2013 approximately 311 students have borrowed $481,175 from this program.
Currently the Humboldt Rotary Club sponsors two fundraisers. In June we serve a chicken or pork dinner with all the fixings. Then in August we host the Fly In/Drive In Breakfast at the Humboldt Municipal Airport. This breakfast is prepared by Gronbach's Firefighter Crew and plane rides are provided by the Humboldt Flying Wildcats. Pilots from all over the midwest join us for Sunday morning breakfast.
President
President Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
Past President
Rotary Foundation Chairman
Club Administration Chairman
Service Projects Chairman
Membership Chairman
Public Relations Chairman
Program Chairman
Downloadable Application
INFORMATION ON LOW INTEREST COLLEGE LOANS
Low interest rate loans are available to graduates of Humboldt County high schools. These loans are being provided by the Lindhart Education Trust which has been administered by the Humboldt Rotary Club since 1972.
The Lindhart Education Trust was established to honor former Rotarian Elmer Lindhart and his wife, Ruth. It was recently enhanced by former Rotarian Lester Moffitt and his wife, Phyllis, in memory of their son, Mark, and former Rotarian Delmar Cram and his wife, Ruth.
Approximately 322 loans have been made totaling over $508,278 since 1972. The Humboldt Rotary Club encourages any of the high school graduates in the county to apply for financial assistance to attend any approved college or vocational/trade school.
You may copy an application form by clicking on the donwloadable form above.
For more information, students or parents may contact Humboldt Rotarian Jana Bratland at 515-332-3457 before June 1st of each year. They may also contact their local high school guidance counselor.