Student Rotarian Essay Winners
Pictured left to right: Elena Davidson, President Brad Beasley, John Curnutt and Tiffany Liaw.
1st Place - $1,000 Scholarship - Elena Davidson, Las Cruces High
Elena is in the National Honor Society with a GPA of 4.03 and ranked 7th in her class of 366 students. She was a Student Rotarian for the month of October 2013. She is very involved in school and community activities. Her goals include post graduate degrees in either Computer Science or Public Policy.
2nd Place - $750 Scholarship - Tiffany Liaw, Las Cruces High
Tiffany is in the National Honor Society with a GPA of 4.2. She is active at her school and in her community. She was a Student Rotarian for the month of March 2014. She has received several academic achievement awards and NM State qualifier for the Las Cruces Aquatic Team and current team manager of the LCHS swim team.
3rd Place - $500 Scholarship - John Curnutt, Onate High
John is in the National Honor Society and is involved in the the NJROTC (Navy Junior Officer Training Corps) and the Boy Scouts of America as an Eagle Scout.
The winners and their essays are shown under the "Read More" tab:
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No. 5 Elena Davidson
"I Will Do It"
“This is not a time for us to say, ‘Somebody ought to do that.’ Our words must be, ‘We
will do it,’” stated an article in the July 1961 issue of The Rotarian magazine. Although it was
published over 50 years ago, this profound quote accurately sums up what I gained from
attending the weekly meetings of the Rio Grande Rotary Club. Last fall I was invited to spend
one month of my Tuesday lunches with local business leaders and witness community
leadership in action as I watched the Rotarians conduct their club meetings. Attending the
Rotary Club meetings not only furthered my knowledge about effective leadership, but the club
also helped to motivate me to be the one who stands up and says “I will do it.”
In high school many students are so focused on deciding on colleges and majors that
they often forget to think about what they will do once they have walked the stage of whatever
university they chose and have their various diplomas in their hands. I admit that I fell into this
category before I was selected to serve as a Student Rotarian from my high school. I was so
preoccupied with selecting my dream college and choosing a degree plan that I rarely thought
about what I would even do with that degree from that college. Rotary made me realize there
will be a day where what I do with my college education will matter more than where I got it
from or what field it is in.
they often forget to think about what they will do once they have walked the stage of whatever
university they chose and have their various diplomas in their hands. I admit that I fell into this
category before I was selected to serve as a Student Rotarian from my high school. I was so
preoccupied with selecting my dream college and choosing a degree plan that I rarely thought
about what I would even do with that degree from that college. Rotary made me realize there
will be a day where what I do with my college education will matter more than where I got it
from or what field it is in.
While attending the weekly Rotary Club meetings I met with engineers, professors,
business owners, writers, attorneys, accountants, local politicians, realtors, and other
professionals in my community who come together to better the world they live in. The
business owners, writers, attorneys, accountants, local politicians, realtors, and other
professionals in my community who come together to better the world they live in. The
Rotarians I met attended different universities and majored in different fields but they all had
something in common— their desire to help their local and global communities. I learned that
the Rotary organization is the reason why polio is nearly nonexistent across the globe. I learned
that the Rio Grande Rotary Club is responsible for providing nearly 500 poverty stricken
children with clothing through the annual “Dress the Child” event. It was so impactful and
motivating to see all of these local leaders join together to help others in their own community
and all over the world. Rotary taught me that no matter where I attend college or what I study,
I have the power to impact this world in a positive way.
Someday soon I will choose what college I will attend. Someday I will choose what field I
will study. And someday, not long after that, I will walk across the stage at the university, that I
chose, with the degree, that I chose. After all those “somedays” I will be faced with the biggest
choice yet— How am I going to be the one who stands up and says “I will do it.”
will study. And someday, not long after that, I will walk across the stage at the university, that I
chose, with the degree, that I chose. After all those “somedays” I will be faced with the biggest
choice yet— How am I going to be the one who stands up and says “I will do it.”
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No 9 - Tiffany Liaw
Rotary: Fun Adventures of Servicing
Every Tuesday at the Convention Center, one can hear Rotarians attest to the Four Way
Test, "Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?" and as an unique twist to the Rio Grande chapter, "IS IT
FUN!"
Test, "Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
Will it be beneficial to all concerned?" and as an unique twist to the Rio Grande chapter, "IS IT
FUN!"
What is rotary exactly? Is it an organization in which "old" people mingle and chat about
their daily lives? Is it an organization that brings together leaders from the community to provide
service? The answer to these questions is yes. Rotary is an international organization with
prominent men and women who work tirelessly to tackle issues in the community. I have had the
incredible opportunity to meet these Rotarians, and during my time with them, I have learned
important lessons about service, leadership skills and fun.
their daily lives? Is it an organization that brings together leaders from the community to provide
service? The answer to these questions is yes. Rotary is an international organization with
prominent men and women who work tirelessly to tackle issues in the community. I have had the
incredible opportunity to meet these Rotarians, and during my time with them, I have learned
important lessons about service, leadership skills and fun.
When I was a third-grader, I received a dictionary from an Eagle Scout at an assembly. I
have always been an avid reader, so I was ecstatic to have a personal dictionary that I could bring
anywhere. I still have that yellow, ragged dictionary to this day. So whenever a man would ask
for volunteers at the meetings to go to elementary schools to donate dictionaries, I would become
nostalgic for the joy of possessing that dictionary and realize that the service Rotary performs for
the community has a major impact: an impact that would last forever, like the delight of
receiving that dictionary.
have always been an avid reader, so I was ecstatic to have a personal dictionary that I could bring
anywhere. I still have that yellow, ragged dictionary to this day. So whenever a man would ask
for volunteers at the meetings to go to elementary schools to donate dictionaries, I would become
nostalgic for the joy of possessing that dictionary and realize that the service Rotary performs for
the community has a major impact: an impact that would last forever, like the delight of
receiving that dictionary.
Every meeting, there would be a guest speaker. Although each speaker would discuss
completely different subjects like World Health Organization goals or edible pesticides, the
speaker would display leadership skills. The energetic man explaining taxes, for example, told
the club that he was fortunate to have the opportunity to practice his speaking skills because he
was planning to run for election. Throughout his presentation, he appeared nervous, but he
gained the experience of speaking in front of a crowd, and he can use that experience for his
future goals. By observing the guest speakers, I learned that possessing leadership skills is not
always an innate ability, but can always be gained through experiences like speaking in front of
Rotary.
completely different subjects like World Health Organization goals or edible pesticides, the
speaker would display leadership skills. The energetic man explaining taxes, for example, told
the club that he was fortunate to have the opportunity to practice his speaking skills because he
was planning to run for election. Throughout his presentation, he appeared nervous, but he
gained the experience of speaking in front of a crowd, and he can use that experience for his
future goals. By observing the guest speakers, I learned that possessing leadership skills is not
always an innate ability, but can always be gained through experiences like speaking in front of
Rotary.
Although Rotary is a professional organization that provides service, the Rio Grande
chapter assures that every meeting is a fun experience. One of the fun activities I witnessed was
the donation of "happy dollars." I remembered a man giving a happy dollar for retiring, and he
then proceeded to stick his tongue out. With the Rotarians enjoying their time together, I realized
that fun will always bring everyone together despite the seriousness of the organization.
chapter assures that every meeting is a fun experience. One of the fun activities I witnessed was
the donation of "happy dollars." I remembered a man giving a happy dollar for retiring, and he
then proceeded to stick his tongue out. With the Rotarians enjoying their time together, I realized
that fun will always bring everyone together despite the seriousness of the organization.
In the future, I plan to use all of these lessons to help me become a respectful person.
Most of all, I will always remember the laughter and joy that Rotary has brought me during those
meetings. The memory that will stick to me like the memory of owning that dictionary will be
the expression, "IS IT FUN!"
Most of all, I will always remember the laughter and joy that Rotary has brought me during those
meetings. The memory that will stick to me like the memory of owning that dictionary will be
the expression, "IS IT FUN!"
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No 2 - John Curnutt
"Service which is rendered without joy helps neither the servant nor the served; but all other
pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of
joy."
pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of
joy."
Mahatma Gandhi's words of wisdom, illustrating how one can easily find joy in
providing service to others, were lived out during my few weeks with the Rotarians. Members
cheerfully associated with one other student and me; they happily contributed time and money
for the benefit of our community. The representatives I met were happy to share their
experiences, both large and small for the benefit of all. These experiences included major life
events, histories, and daily activities for which I might have an interest. I was impressed that in
addition to the group's four-way test, the fifth was "Is it FUN?"
providing service to others, were lived out during my few weeks with the Rotarians. Members
cheerfully associated with one other student and me; they happily contributed time and money
for the benefit of our community. The representatives I met were happy to share their
experiences, both large and small for the benefit of all. These experiences included major life
events, histories, and daily activities for which I might have an interest. I was impressed that in
addition to the group's four-way test, the fifth was "Is it FUN?"
I greatly appreciate that the Rotarians I met were interested in how they could help me in
my own career path and were willing to share experiences and wisdom that might help me as I
try to plan my future. Each week they put a plan in motion to help some facet of the community,
and they consistently reported on the progress or completion of previous projects. I was amazed
that these included both large and small scale projects.
my own career path and were willing to share experiences and wisdom that might help me as I
try to plan my future. Each week they put a plan in motion to help some facet of the community,
and they consistently reported on the progress or completion of previous projects. I was amazed
that these included both large and small scale projects.
I believe that everyone has a fundamental choice to make at some time in life--and
perhaps we need to make that choice again and again. That choice is whether to be self-serving
or selfless. By participating actively in my church, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Reserve
Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the
National Honor Society, I hope that I have already made the choice to focus my life on serving
others, as I know that participation in these groups has already brought me much happiness.
perhaps we need to make that choice again and again. That choice is whether to be self-serving
or selfless. By participating actively in my church, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Reserve
Officers' Training Corps (ROTC), Students against Destructive Decisions (SADD) and the
National Honor Society, I hope that I have already made the choice to focus my life on serving
others, as I know that participation in these groups has already brought me much happiness.
Someday I would love to mentor youth and help contribute to the success of community
events and business. I would consider it an honor to be associated with such a large group of
joyful, service-oriented individuals, and I look forward to being able to bring happiness to others
and myself by serving alongside the Rotarians.
events and business. I would consider it an honor to be associated with such a large group of
joyful, service-oriented individuals, and I look forward to being able to bring happiness to others
and myself by serving alongside the Rotarians.
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