The Rotary Club of Westerville, which sponsors a Student of the Month program, recognized recipients at a luncheon at Villa Milano held on Thursday, April 9. April students are: Kwaku Ayesu, Westerville North High School; and Melissa Rideout, 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.
Rideout, a senior at Westerville South, holds a 4.2 grade point average (GPA) and enjoys studying Physics, Spanish, Math, Orchestra and Band. At school she is a member of the National Honor Society and the marching band, where she works on the Student Fundraising Committee. She also serves on the Student Council and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory. For two years she has coordinated a toiletry drive for the homeless. Rideout is also active in her church’s jazz band and choir. She is a half-marathon runner, a Scholar Athlete and a Cat with Class who holds a 4th year academic letter. She plans to pursue a career in mechanical engineering.
AP Computer Science, AP Environmental Science, Financial Algebra and Trends in Technology are Ayesu’s favorite subjects of study. This senior holds a 3.6042 GPA and is interested in “finding ways to help humanity and enrich the quality life.” He has secured a summer internship at BlairIT, which specializes in information technology, security for computers/servers, and 3D designs. His artwork was chosen for display at the Ohio Governor’s Youth Art Exhibition. He will become the first high school graduate in his family and the first go attend college. Ayesu has been awarded several scholarships to the Columbus College of Art & Design, where he will study Industrial Design. He hopes to use his innovative mind to “build something revolutionary.” He dreams of going back to Ghana, his homeland, to use his knowledge, education and design experience to provide cleaner water, advanced modern architecture and other items that can be used around the household more efficiently. “This means finding a way for my grandmother to have electricity every day and providing cousins and loved ones with a more sustainable environment in which to live and learn.”