Westerville City Schools Food Service employee Brenda Mahr was surprised on December 17 when Sunrise Rotarians visited her in the cafeteria at Cherrington Elementary School to name her as the December recipient of the Westerville Sunrise Rotary Diane J. Conley Service to Youth Award. She received a plaque, a cake, and a gift card to Max & Erma’s restaurant, which sponsors the program.
The Rotarians said that Mahr creates an environment where students feel welcomed, appreciated and ready to learn. She knows every student by name, knows their likes and dislikes, knows their special dietary needs, and keeps everyone who works in the kitchen informed. She chooses different students each day to deliver lunches to staff, which encourages responsibility and good manners. Mahr has memorized every student health issue and has taken the lead to keep the Cherrington cafeteria running smoothly in the absence of the lead cook. She has brainstormed with the office clerk to make the lunch ordering process work more efficiently. She has also organized theme lunches such as “Jungle Safari,” and the “50s Diner,” and has been spotted dressed as the Cat in the Hat or an M&M candy to make the lunchroom experience a pleasant one for pupils. And when students don’t have lunch money, funds “somehow appear from Brenda’s own resources.” Along with another colleague, Mahr pays for a “gift give-away” at the end of the year. “Ms. Brenda is definitely a strong advocate for our students and a source of great comfort to our parents,” wrote Andrew Heck, Kathy Hayman and CJ McGinty, who nominated her for the award.
Rotary Sunrise instituted Service to Youth awards two 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.
Pictured: Brenda Mahr was surrounded by friends, colleagues, family members and Rotarians when she received her Service to Youth Award on December 17.