Newsletter March 31, 2022

 

    Students of the Month

 

OUR YOUTH OF THE MONTH AWARD recognizes hard-working pre-high school and high school students who attain high levels of scholastic achievement, community involvement and leadership, and daily demonstrate good citizenship both at school and at home. Students recognized for the month of March were  Rachel Disisto from Sebastian Charter Junior High School, Lilyana Wilsnack from Sebastian River Middle School, and Taylor Sturgeon and Adam Chester from Sebastian River High School.

 Rachel Disisto has a kind spirit and positive attitude.  She is a strong, self-advocating student who is quickly becoming someone at the top of her game.  She is confident in herself and caring of others. Rachel leads with compassion and kindness.  With determination and perseverance, Rachel not only strives for excellence in her academics and extracurricular activities, but also demonstrates the ability to encourage andassist those around her. She had an amazing Science Fair project this year and won several awards at the Indian River Regional Science Fair. She is an ambassador and works with students in another class to complete science labs and understand the science behind them.  Rachel is an amazing young woman with a phenomenal future.  She’s intelligent, hardworking, responsive to others, and embraces all six of the Character Pillars taught here at SCJH.  In accepting her award Rachel thanked our club, her teachers, grandparents and parents for setting a foundation and being her role models.

Lilyana Wilsnack is a very mature, highly cooperative and hardworking student both inside and outside of the classroom.  Her academic performance stands within the top three percent of SRMS’ 8th grade class. Also, Lilyana has shown a remarkable willingness to participate and lead other students to perform better. Lilyana provides a great role model for other students to emulate.  Based on her remarkable performance during the Indian River Regional Science & Engineering Fair her science fair project was selected to participate in the Florida State Science & Engineering Fair.  She always strives to do her best and be her best. Lilyana is a true model student.

She is driven, compassionate, a leader as well as a team player.  she is mature and well balanced by taking her responsibilities seriously yet carrying a smile and a certain grace that shows confidence in her endeavors. Lilly is not afraid to ask challenging questions, yet she communicates them in a positive and empathetic way.  She is a student who truly values education and learning. She carries herself with a demeanor of wanting to learn. Lilyana has been working incredibly hard this year to maintain an “A” average in all of her classes. Her strong character is a model for her peers and others around her. She goes the extra mile to make sure that she is successful.   In accepting her award Lilyana thanked our club, her teachers and family for their support in helping her learn how to be successful.

Taylor Sturgeon is an IB Diploma Candidate with a weighted GPA of 4.391 and ranked 26^th in her class.  She is a member of the National Honor Society and Senior Class Secretary, Editor-in-Chief of the Yearbook and has played on Varsity Golf and Tennis teams as well as Lacrosse JV team and band.  She organized the Chick-Fil-A Leadership Academy Color Run to benefit the March of Dimes, is a Peer mentor for Fellsmere Elementary students, and raised approximately $1,500 collecting pop-tops for Ronald McDonald House.  Taylor works at Chick-fil-A.  Although accepted to several colleges, she plans to attend the University of North Florida and study marketing.  In accepting her award Taylor thanked our club, her teachers as well as all of her peers for motivating her to strive for her best, saying, “I am truly honored.”

Adam Chester is an IB Diploma Candidate with a weighted GPA of 4.386 and class rank of 27^th.  He is a member and former officer of the National Honor Society and Future Business Leaders of America.  Adam is a member of the SRHS Band, Pride Competition Band, Section Leader of Saxophones, Band Lieutenant  and Executive Leader of the band.  He is a varsity starter all 4 years of the SRHS Tennis team, and Treasure of the SRHS Excel Club.  He volunteers for Nathaniel’s Hope Buddy Break for special needs children and at the Environment Learning Center as a summer camp counselor.  He has  volunteered with Keep Indian River  Beautiful beach cleanup since 2014 and has volunteered more than 350 hours of other community service.  Adam works as a Front Service Clerk at Publix and his hobbies are sports, music and travel.  Although accepted to several colleges Adam plans to attend the University of North Florida and study clinical science.  In accepting his award he thanked our club, his parents and teachers for their support.

 

    Guest Speaker Series

On March 23^rd our guest speaker Michael Ansley, Executive Director of Helping Hands Community of the Treasure Coast and Keep Indian River Beautiful.  Helping Hand was established in 2020 Helping Hands Community of the Treasure Coast, Inc. is a 501(c)3 that started from the Helping Hands Committee at Indian River State College. This committee was led by Michele Vergho for two years and grew to be one of the largest committees on Indian River State College’s Campuses. Michael Ansley was the President of the Human Services Club at the college who helped Michele, and the committee grows to be  one of the most active clubs on campus.

Michele Vergho and Michael Ansley started this organization to promote community outreach through the teaching of servant leadership, mentorship, educational projects, and/or opportunities. During their senior year, they completed the National Society of Leadership and Success Honor Society’s executive leadership level, which kick-started their dream to start this organization.

Since 2020 they have sponsored 58 events and in 2020-21 they received the Florida State College System Bob Graham Distinguished Service Award.  During the Covid pandemic Helping Hands partnered with Friends of Laporte Farms in an afterschool mindfulness program for youth which, among other activities, included gardening, composting, chicken incubation, fishing, yoga and drumming.

Keep Indian River Beautiful, in existence for more than 36 years, was hit hard by Covid, lost its state funding and had to close its thrift store. Helping hands took over and oversees KIRB projects.  Upcoming events include debris removal north of the Sebastian Inlet, and the Great American Cleanup on Earth Day.  Both events will demonstrate a new solar powered beach cleaning robot.  For more information about these and other events visit KeepIndianBeautiful.org or visit the Helping Hands Community facebook page.    

                        

 

 

 

 

 

Johnathan Rhodeback with Michael Ansley

 

Welcome New Members

On February 26^th we inducted Diane Croteau and on March 9^th we inducted Wendy Becker as our newest members.  Please make sure to introduce yourself and welcome Diane and Wendy to our club.

                 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnathan Rhodeback with Diane Croteau

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Johnathan Rhodeback with Wendy Becker

This and That

Please contact Ali Qizilbash or  Kimball Stadler with ideas for future speakers. Suggestions are appreciated!

Eva Chapman needs to know of any volunteer work a member has done outside of Exchange Club. This counts toward credit we get from national toward year end awards. Please use her log or send her the name of the organization and number of hours you spent volunteering.

Terry Gardner is chairing the Community Involvement Committee. Karen McElveen will serve with her. They encourage members to give them ideas.

Kathy Burns and Margie Duffell are working with both Sebastian Charter Junior High School and Sebastian River High School to rebuild their Excel Club programs. Club meetings are held immediately after school at each school. Volunteers to assist with these meetings are needed! For more information please contact Kathy or Margie.

Adam Preuss reminds us that on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, our luncheon will be held at SRHS Sharkey’s Café to recognize the Male & Female Youth of the Year students and the ACE student.  Lunch will consist of: Salad, Chicken, Veggie, Dessert & Drink and will be paid for by the club.  We will need to provide the culinary school a firm and final count of members wishing to participate by April 4^th.

Phil Barnes says the date for our Junior Blue Water Open has been confirmed for Saturday October 29^th.

 

North County Charter Elementary Freedom Shrine Re-Dedication

 

On April 1^st our club and the Vero Beach Exchange Clubs joined in a re-dedication ceremony of the Freedom Shrine at the North County Charter Elementary School.