Pictured left to right: Rotarian Janet Withers, Hartlee Johnston, Westerville South; Hannah Sargel, Westerville North; and Rotary Club President A.J. Bittinger. Not pictured: Taylor Forbes.
The Rotary Club of Westerville, which sponsors a Student of the Month program, recognized recipients at a luncheon at Villa Milano held on Thursday, January 9. January students are: Taylor Forbes, Westerville Central High School; Hannah Sargel, Westerville North High School; and Hartlee Johnston, Westerville South High School.
The purpose of the program is twofold: to recognize outstanding students who have distinguished themselves by serving their school and to expose them to the Rotary Club and its ideal of “Service Above Self.” Students selected join Rotarians for lunch every week for a month, and have the opportunity to interact with members.
Taylor Forbes is an active member of Westerville Central Interact Club. She led the charge in Central’s “Think Pink” week for breast cancer awareness. She has also been involved with Young Life as a member and peer, as well as mentoring to younger students. Forbes has participated in “The Buddy Walk,” which brings awareness to autism and Down syndrome. She has also volunteered at a local animal shelter, Pets Without Parents. Forbes enjoys skiing with her classmates in Ski Club and attending Central events with her friends. She plans to attend either Alabama University, Kentucky University, or Ole Miss University and major in Psychology.
Hannah Sargel, a senior at Westerville North, holds a grade point average of 4.37. Her favorite subjects of study are Chemistry and Calculus. She is a member of her school’s soccer team, and is President of the Key Club. She is also a member of the National Honor Society and is active in Junior Mentoring and tutoring at middle schools. Sargel volunteers at the Caring & Sharing warehouse and works as a babysitter and nanny. She has been recognized as an Outstanding Honors Chemistry Student and an Outstanding Honors Biology Student. She earned letters in band and academics, and was on the Westerville North Homecoming Court. She plans to study Environmental Engineering at Ohio State, Ohio University or Arcadia University.
Hartlee Johnston is a junior at Westerville South. She holds a 4.455 grade point average and enjoys studying Chemistry and Theory of Knowledge. She is a full International Baccalaureate student, is field commander for the marching band, plays flute in the Wind Ensemble and served on the planning committee for the Winter Formal. Johnston co-founded a nonprofit organization called Supporting the Girls. She is active in youth groups and music at her church, is a Future City mentor, volunteers in a peer empowerment program at South, and is a grant reader for the Women’s Fund. She holds two varsity letters, was on the winning Ohio Future City competition team, won the Regional Chemistry Olympiad, and earned two Math Department awards. She plans to study Biochemistry at Duke, Cornell, Valparaiso, or Willamette.