Press Release from Old Saybrook Rotary Club

The Old Saybrook Rotary Club, representing the towns of Lyme, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, and Westbrook, has supported important and impactful activities for the youth in these towns. The Rotary’s support of our young people is highlighted through scholarships, its Student of the Month awards, and its participation in the World Affairs Seminar.

2024 Old Saybrook Rotary Club Scholarships

Each year, the Old Saybrook Rotary Club awards scholarships to high school students who are pursuing their education at colleges and universities. This year’s recipients from Old Saybrook High School included Kaden Kollmer, Luke Webb, Shihka Patel, Daniel Steindl, and Patrick Sheehan. Recipients from Westbrook High School included Muhammed “Arsalan” Zaheer, Catalina Mora, Piper Selmont, Gabrielle Walker, Abby Demers, Emma Bransfield, and Olivia Palumbo. Demers was also the recipient of the 2024 Brent Taylor Award.

Student of the Month

The Student of the Month program took place from October 2023 through June 2024, acknowledging talented and exemplary students from Lyme/Old Lyme High School, Old Saybrook High School, and Westbrook High School. Each month, these students were honored at Saybrook Point with a breakfast and a special ceremony. Students who exemplified outstanding academic excellence in certain subject areas were selected by their teachers.

The Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self” is reflected in the students’ dedication to humanitarian service for their peers, as well as in their schools and communities. Not only did students receive a monetary gift, but a donation was made on their behalf to Polio Plus, a program by Rotary International which provides vaccinations with the goal of eradicating polio worldwide.

The following students from Lyme/Old Lyme High School (L/OLHS), Old Saybrook High School (OSHS), and Westbrook High School (WHS) were selected for a Student of the Month Award: Kailtlyn Kidd (OSHS), Emma Bransfield (WHS), and Agatha Hunt (L/OLHS) in English; Marissa Astur (OSHS), Trevor Jone (WHS), and Stella Geronimo (L/OLHS) in math; Ryan Lombardi (OSHS), Arsalan Zaheer (WHS), and Dakota Kozan (L/OLHS) in social students; Parker Cook (OSHS), Abby Demers (WHS), and Duohui Yan (L/OLHS) in science; Ryan Lombardi (OSHS), Ashley Holt (WHS), and Grace Zembruski (L/OLHS) in world language; Patrick Sheehan (OSHS) and John Holzworth (L/OLHS) in technology; Ella Brady (OSHS), Cadence Acobbo (WHS), and Lucas McMillan (L/OLHS) in music/performing arts; Jonah Lafreniere (OSHS), Emily Gomez-Salguero (WHS), and Tyler Wells (L/OLHS) in business; and Amelia Sigersmith (OSHS), John Dias Heringer (WHS), and Foster Richardell (L/OLHS) in education.

World Affairs Seminar

The World Affairs Seminar is a popular Rotary program which attracts high school seniors from around the world. It is a Rotary District #7980 program which offers a unique opportunity for high school students to gather in an academic setting to study global issues. This year, it was held at Carroll University in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The seminar provided many insights to these students and gave them an opportunity to listen to peers from around the globe.

During their six days at Carroll University, the students also heard world-renowned speakers, met in small groups to work out solutions to challenging programs, formed lifelong friendships, and left with tools which enabled them to share their new knowledge and make an impact on the world they are about to inherit. This year’s Rotary attendees included Sophie Pennie of Lyme/Old Lyme High School, Talia Bauer of Old Saybrook High School, and Karl Schilling of Westbrook High School.