Rotary Club Honors East Haven High School Students

EAST HAVEN, CT — Nearing a century of community service, the East Haven Rotary Club has had to cancel all of its fundraisers. But that has not stopped it from using what small amount of funds it has to help East Haven citizens from mask donations to personal to healthcare workers in long-term care and rehabilitation facilities.

“Although funds are somewhat limited by our inability to hold many of our usual fundraising events due to Covid-19, we are still striving to do the best we can within our community and doing the best for our local residents," said club president Joan Adamczyk, "as we continue to follow our club’s motto of ‘service above self.'"

One of the suspended programs during the pandemic was the Rotary's Student of the Month, which was usually awarded several times a year at one of the club’s weekly dinner meetings.

The Student of the Month is a partnership between the Rotary Club and East Haven High School that recognizes students for outstanding character as well as academic achievements or progress. Normally, a student from the school's junior class is honored and invited to attend a Thursday night dinner meeting at the Twin Pines Diner and is presented with a certificate and a check for $100. Winners then become eligible for the $1000 Jack Leary Memorial scholarship to be awarded at the end of their senior year.

This year has been anything but normal, but the Rotary adapted.

Tuesday, Rotarian's Kathy Conner and Tammy Afragola honored four as students of the month in the high school lobby covering March, April, May and June.

Bianca Apuzzo, who was nominated by the school's foreign language department, was the March recipient.

Kevin Francois, who was nominated by the school's art department, received the April award.

Megan Gambardella, who was nominated by the school's music department, was the May recipient.

Juan Espitia, who was nominated by the school's business department, was the award winner for June.

Congratulations!

The Club was organized on March 3, 1939. Further Rotary information may be obtained by visiting the Rotary's website at www.easthavenrotary.org or the club’s Facebook page.