Sycamore High School Senior Elizabeth McConkie was the first "Student of the Month" for the new school year.  She is ranked #1 in her class.  She spent the summer studying Arabic at the Center for Language and Culture in Marrakech, Morocco through a state department scholarship.  In addition to learning the language, she was immersed in Moroccan culture by living with a host family.  The experience added to her foreign language skills which also include French and Spanish.  McConkie is a Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy contest winner achieving first  places locally and regionally and a third place in the state competition.  In the community, McConkie has served as a County Election Judge and Ballot Runner.  She is active in the local Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints serving as organist, youth group leader, and attends religious classes prior to every school day.  Her extra-curricular activities at school include the tennis team; madrigals and jazz choir; marching, pep, and symphonic band; and she even gives private oboe lessons.  McConkie says she hopes to go to Brigham Young University, Stanford, or Utah University after graduation to pursue music and government relations.  She is donating her $100 Rotary check to the non-profit Tanzania Development Support project that provides educational support for youth, especially young women.

Local American Legion efforts to help prevent veteran suicides were explained at this week’s Rotary Meeting by advocate Cynthia Hupke shown here holding a card about their “Be the One” awareness campaign.  Hupke promoted a 2.2-mile walk hosted by local Legion Post #66 to be held September 22.  The 2.2 distance and date are symbolic for the 22 lives estimated to be lost each day by servicemembers with a mental health crisis.  The Legion’s goal is to raise awareness to this crisis and promote the theme “Be the One to Save the Life of a Veteran.”