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Students in the Cimarron Middle School Interact Club have never been to Afghanistan, Nigeria or Pakistan. Nor have they had to worry about contracting polio, a contagious, crippling and often deadly virus that infects the brain and spinal cord, which has been eradicated around the world except for Afghanistan, Nigeria and Pakistan.
Students at Cimarron, in Parker, want to make sure children in the three countries where polio is still a problem won't have to worry about the deadly virus in the future. Students raised money through the Pajamas for Polio fundraiser last month, which they donated to the Rotary Club International, which is the leading service organization for eradicating polio. The students' efforts earned them their Rotary banner, which now hangs in the entryway to the school.
“I joined the Interact Club because my friend told me about it and it sounded like fun,” said student Abby Reis, 11. “I really like it and I want to help my community and other people. Now I wish we could meet two times a week because I want to do so much more.”
The club is a junior Rotary Club, and students had to earn a Rotary banner to hang in their school, by sponsoring a local and international fundraising event. Pajamas for Polio qualified for the international event, and students donated the $500 raised to eradicate polio. They are planting trees around Parker for Arbor Day, and working on a school safety project which qualifies for local events. Students were presented their banner by the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker, and spent an afternoon crafting individual name tags to accompany the banner. The club currently boasts nearly 40 members.
Norah Dishong, 13, said she can see herself becoming a Rotarian and upholding the organization's motto of “Service Before Self” throughout her life.
“I'm doing this because it feels really good to help out my community in a way that doesn't benefit me. I could see myself in a lifetime of service,” said Dishong.
Student adviser Nicole Martin said although she supervises the students, they take the initiative to run the club by themselves.
“They're a great group of kids, and this is the kind of club that anybody can belong to,” said Martin. “We have kids who are also involved in sports, theater and math. They all get along and are all passionate about helping others.”
Brayden Jacob, 13, a student at Cimarron Middle School, along with seven of his classmates, joined more than 200 people at Parker's PACE Center April 11 for the Cherry Creek Valley Rotary Club of Parker's Third Annual Achievement Luncheon.
Jacob was one of 39 nominees being honored by the Rotary Club for taking the initiative to do something that helps others. “Service Above Self” is the motto of the service organization, and Jacob was nominated because he approached his principal, Chris Zimmerman, and asked about starting a club at the school called Interact, which serves as a young Rotarian club and encourages students to help others.
“I learned about the Rotary while I was at a leadership camp and thought nowadays people aren't always nice to each other,” said Jacob. “I thought I could inspire kids at school to do the right thing.”
Rotarian Cheryl O'Brien, who helped organize the event, said it's actions like Jacob's that make a difference in the world.
“The purpose of the celebration is to recognize salt-of-the-earth people who perform little acts of service, that may not seem like much to them, but make a big difference to other people,” said O'Brien.
The event was kicked off with an invocation by Pastor Gary McCusker, and a proclamation from Parker Mayor Mike Waid praising the efforts of all nominees. Author Tommy Spaulding was the keynote speaker,and encouraged attendees to continue their acts of service. Spaulding founded Leaders Challlenge, one of the largest high school civic and leadership programs in Colorado.
Nominees came from throughout Douglas County, and Light 'n' Heart awards were given in a dozen categories, including Young Person of Achievement, Achievement in Leadership, Local Service and International Service, as well as Unsung Heroine/Hero.
Jacob received the Achievement as a Young Man Award Light 'n' Heart award, and also received a copy of Spaulding's book "The Heart-Led Leader."
Ralph Martin joined the Rotary Club in 2002, and said he looks forward to the annual luncheon each year.
Students Jenna Barrus, Genevieve Hier, Paul Bowers, Julia Huck, Tatus Bristow, Lindsay Mullen, Paige Dickman, Anna Schulhoff, Cici Ehmann and Megan Yu received scholarship awards.
“It's wonderful to see so many good people, and young people. I look forward to it every year,” said Martin. “I couldn't imagine my life without the Rotary.”
The Legend Interact students and several our club members spent the last 4 Fridays at Gold Rush Elementary reading to the four 1st Grade classes. The students read 4 different books to all the classes and discussed how the characters relate to the "four awesome questions".
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