Stories

Casino Night is back! On February 24th, 2024 the Rotary Club of Willow Grove will host our Casino Night at the Whitemarsh Valley Event Center in Fort Washington. Backjack, Poker, Roulette, Craps, delicious food, great prizes, and loads of fun.

What more can you ask for? Tickets are $35 and come with $50 of chips to get you started. Beef and Beer included.  Top prize will be a $500 gift card.  

For tickets, email jdeegan21@gmail.com

The Upper Moreland High School December Student of the Month is Conner Holm.

Conner is the Vice-President of the National Honor Society and is the student director for the UM Drama Company.  Conner is a member of the Jazz Band and the UM Marching Unit where he currently serves as the Drum Major.

Outside of school, Conner helps his peers through tutoring in both academics and music whenever needed.  He has been involved with East West Karate martial arts school for the past 12 years and has earned his black belt.

Conner has applied to Harvard University and plans to study Mathematics Engineering.

Marcus Donaldson is the December 2018 Student of the Month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology in Willow Grove. He is in EASTERN’s Business and Technology Professional program and a senior at Hatboro-Horsham High School. The Student of the Month Award is sponsored by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Operating Committee and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success and service. Ten students each year are selected for this honor.

Marcus first learned about the programs at EASTERN through a presentation at Hatboro-Horsham High School and then by participating in a tenth-grade visitation to EASTERN. After attending EASTERN’s Open House with his family, he decided to enroll in the Business and Technology Professional program to assist him in pursuing his business career aspirations.

At EASTERN, Marcus is involved with EASTERN’s student leadership organization, SkillsUSA and was his Business and Technology Professional class officer during the 2017 – 2018 school year. Through EASTERN’s dual enrollment partnership, Marcus is a Montgomery County Community College (MCCC) student earning transferable college credits while still in high school. He was recognized at EASTERN’s Annual Awards Night held in May 2018 with several awards, including Attendance, Achievement and Straight A. He is currently interning once a week at PA State Representative Tom Murt’s office in Hatboro and holds a part-time job at Chick-fil-A.

“Marcus works very hard and appreciates the value of a responsible work ethic,” said Marketa Crane, EASTERN’s Business and Technology Professional Instructor. “He is always willing to volunteer to greet outside visitors to the school and gives 100 percent effort to his internship employer.”

After graduation from EASTERN and Hatboro-Horsham High School, Marcus plans to continue pursuing his education at MCCC and then transfer his credits to Temple University where he plans to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in business. His goal is to become a sales representative for a major car company and hopes to get accepted into one of their internship programs.

Marcus receives his award from Club President Sam Valenza

The Upper Moreland High School September Student of the Month is Tabitha Schmer.

Tabitha is the President of the Class of 2019, as well as the President of the National Honor Society. She is the Student Representative on our School Board, the President of the Debate Club, the Stage Crew Manager, a Student Council Representative and can be heard every morning as she hosts our morning announcements. Tabitha has consistently achieved distinguished honor roll every marking period and has twice been the recipient of the Home and School Association Citizenship Award. Tabitha is involved with Kisses for Kyle, the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Foundation, Science in the Summer and has received the Baby Bureau Service Award. Tabitha plans to continue her education after graduation and study pre-medicine.

Tabitha, accompanied by her parents, accepts the award from club President Sam Valenza.

The September 2018 Student of the Month at Eastern Center for Arts and Technology is Misha Davis, an Upper Moreland High School senior.

Misha is being recognized for his work in EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program during the 2017 – 2018 school year. This year he is enrolled in EASTERN’s Allied Health program. The Student of the Month Award is sponsored by EASTERN’s faculty, Joint Committee and the Willow Grove Rotary Club to highlight student excellence, success and service. Ten students each year are selected for this honor.

After visiting EASTERN as a sophomore, Misha decided to enroll in EASTERN’s Culinary Arts program.He was a leader in the classroom and enjoyed working in a hands-on learning environment. He became a student ambassador for the Culinary Arts program and spoke to potential students at recruitment events at both Upper Moreland and Lower Moreland High Schools. Half way through his junior year, he found himself interested in learning more about careers in the medical field. This year, he is enrolled in the one year Allied Health program at EASTERN. He is looking forward to the partnership that the Allied Health program has with Abington-Jefferson Hospital. Starting in October, the Allied Health students will begin shadowing healthcare professionals on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

As a junior in the Culinary Arts program, Misha received first place in the SkillsUSA Job Demonstration District competition. He volunteered his culinary expertise at EASTERN extracurricular events such as the annual Joint Operating Committee Dinner and the Advisory Appreciation Brunch. At Upper Moreland High School, Misha is a member of the Varsity Swim and Tennis teams, and a Sound Crew member for the Drama Company. He is also involved in the community as a Boy Scout, Cadet Sergeant in the Civil Air Force Auxiliary and a member of the Hope Community Missions Team.“It was a pleasure having Misha in my class,” said Hayley Granacher, EASTERN’s Culinary Arts Instructor. “Just as he succeeded in the Culinary Arts program, I am confident he will do just as well in the Allied Health program. He has an extremely positive attitude and works hard.”

After graduation from Upper Moreland High School and EASTERN’s Allied Health program, he plans to attend a postsecondary technical college for two years while working in the medical field. He hopes to work in the trauma or Emergency Room setting.

Misha receives his award from club President, Sam Valenza. Misha's parents were also in attendance.

Our Rotary Club was privileged at this past week's meeting to induct two new members, Bilal and Sarah Djos-Raph. A very warm welcome to Sarah and Bilal and their family!

Sarah participated in Rotary's International Exchange program a little over 10 years ago. Spending a year in France, she learned to love travel, meeting new people and adventures. After attending college in Canada, Sarah spent a year in the Peace Corps in Africa, where she met Bilal. Bilal is currently helping coach the Soccer team at UMHS.  

If you would like to learn more about joining our Club and the good work Rotary does in our community and around the world, join us for lunch on Thursdays at 12:15 at HVCC.