The Rotary Club of Westerville, which sponsors a Student of the Month program, recognized recipients at a luncheon at Villa Milano held on Thursday, November 1. November students are Arnauld Kayihura, Westerville Central High School; Ellis Blackstone, Westerville North High School; Tuyen Quan, Westerville South High School; and Nicole Kurtz, St. Francis DeSales High School.
The purpose of the program is twofold: to recognize outstanding pupils 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.
Arnauld Kayihura is a senior at Westerville Central High School, where he holds a 3.5 grade point average (GPA). Biology and Language are his favorite subjects of study. At school he is in the Global Scholars Diploma Program and the Be the Change Club, and served as an AP Boot Camp Leader, and on the AP Panel for Diversity. He volunteers at Riverside Methodist Hospital and Habitat for Humanity. He plans to attend college and major in Biology.
History and Science are Ellis Blackstone’s favorite classes. This Westerville North High School senior has earned a 4.3 GPA. At school, she enjoys soccer, football games, environment clean-up projects, composting, and making “bath bombs” with science teachers. Blackstone took first place at the Westerville Arts Festival, two years in a row, for photography. She also designed “Spread the Word to End the Word” t-shirts. After spending a gap year in South America after graduation, she plans to major in photojournalism at Kent State or Ringling College.
Twelfth grade Westerville South High School pupil Tuyen Quan holds a 4.7891GPA. Math and Science – especially Biology – are her favorite subjects. She is president of Key Club, a class officer, secretary of Student Council, and a member of the National Honor Society. She plays varsity tennis and lacrosse. Quan volunteers at Lifeline Christian Missions, W.A.R.M., and at Grant Medical Center. For the past three years, she has been on the Honor Roll and had perfect attendance at school. She won an OCC Scholar Athlete award and was a Buckeye Girls State alternate. She is interested in attending The Ohio State University or Case Western Reserve to major in Biochemistry or Neuroscience on a Pre-Med track.
Senior Nicole Kurtz earned a 4.111 GPA at St. Francis DeSales, where Science is her favorite class, particularly Chemistry and Anatomy. She plays varsity softball, is active in the Spanish Club and participates in Stallions for Wellness. During summer break, she helped coach the U8 Stampede team, and lent a hand at Softball Camp. She is a member of both the National Honor Society and the Spanish National Honor Society. Kurtz plans to major in Biochemistry at Miami University, on a Pre-Med or Pharmacy track.