Pictured left to right: Sunrise Rotarians Al Rupiper, Gretchen Kiehl and Kristen Moosmiller; Westerville Central Principal Todd Spinner; Service to Youth award recipient Barb Coppens; and Sunrise Rotarians Diane Conley and Paul Kulik.
Barbara Coppens, secretary to Westerville Central High School Principal Todd Spinner, was surprised on March 5 when a group of Sunrise Rotarians showed up to present her with the Diane J. Conley Rotary Club of Westerville Sunrise Service to Youth award. She received a plaque from the club, along with a cake and a $50 gift card donated by the Walmart Supercenter on Schrock Road. In addition, an American flag will be flown in her honor during Westerville’s Field of Heroes display. She and other Service to Youth award winners will be honored at a breakfast in May.
The Sunrise Rotarians said Coppens does a great job in a challenging position, making sure that the “One Warhawk Nation” message is always conveyed to the pupils. She answers countless questions from students and staff and often spends nights and weekends organizing events and activities from yearbook inclusion to students of the month to cap and gown orders. She has also been a very influential part of the Powder Puff Football game, raising more than $3,500 to support the fight against breast cancer and feeding the hungry through the Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM).
Rotary Sunrise instituted Service to Youth awards four years ago to recognize exceptional school employees who have made a special contribution to youth; have served as a positive role model for young people; and have demonstrated service above and beyond the call of duty in performing their job responsibilities. The award is named in honor of Sunrise Rotarian Diane Conley, retired Chief of Academic Affairs for Westerville City Schools.