The Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club will present its second annual Sunrise Rotary Good Character Awards, honoring Lamorinda’s middle school students. The event is slated for March 6 at 5:30 p.m. at Campolindo High School, at 300 Moraga Rd, Moraga.
Out of 26 nominations, nine students were chosen – Nyla Brustein, Tyson Flournoy and Bre Redding from Orinda Intermediate School, Aryansh (Ary) Deepak, Robert (Bobby) Ruhl and Quinn Sousa from Stanley Middle School and Sadie Ginestro, Heidi Vanhouten and Elliot Wong from Joaquin Moraga Intermediate School.
The award recognizes students based on nominations from teachers, administrators and counselors for their ability to reflect the essential Rotary principles of truthfulness, kindness, fairness and service to others. Examples are helping younger students succeed in their studies, standing up to bullies and helping others in the community through volunteering.
Recipients, their friends, family, teachers and administrators will attend the reception and dinner along with the mayors and school superintendents of all three Lamorinda cities. The students will also be honored with certificates of recognition and cash awards from the Rotary Club.
Youth Services Director for the Rotary Club and Coordinator of the event, Robert Marino, believes these awards are important. “They honor students who will make a positive difference in our world and send a message to other young people about the importance of the values our schools and community seek to foster,” he said.
The award came to fruition as a result of the Rotary Club analyzing data surrounding middle school students’ mental health and well-being. They found middle schoolers are suffering from the same kind of anxiety and lack of support as high school students.
While schools often have awards for academics, athletics and the performing arts, the Rotary Club knew there could be more attention paid to acknowledging students who exhibit good character.
Marino said, “Strong character building is one of the best defenses against anxiety, loneliness and the significant pressures of middle schools.”
With the help of teachers and administrators in identifying the best ways to make a positive impact to promote wellness and resilience, the award was successfully piloted last year at Joaquin Moraga.
“I can tell you without hesitation that what I am looking forward to most is the pride and joy of the recipients, their teachers and their friends, as well as to see the look of pure love and pride in the faces of the recipients’ families,” said Marino.
For more information about Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary Club, visit lamorindasunrise.org and RSVP for the event on their Eventbrite page.
Lamorinda Sunrise Rotary to Host 2024 Good Character Awards
