Graduates from Avon, Avon Lake and Brookside High Schools who were each awarded North Coast Rotary $1000 Service Above Self scholarships, met with Rotarians to thank them at a recent Rotary meeting. Awardees are: Amelia Tomak, Avon – Jane R. Kuzman Memorial Scholarship; Ellamarie Green, Avon Lake – Bon R. Russell Memorial Scholarship; Mikhail Pyltsov, Avon Lake – Marilyn Weems Memorial Scholarship; Robert DeLuca, Brookside, awarded the Service Above Self Scholarship and Alexandra Rion, Brookside Interact Scholarship. Congratulations and best wishes in their college endeavors!
Congratulations to Brookside students Maddie Fada and Arushi Phukan who were awarded by school leadership to participate in the 2023 program! At this week’s club meeting, Maddie and Arushi described their HOBY experiences and thanked Rotarians for sponsoring them.
North Coast Rotary first sponsored area students to attend the HOBY Leadership program in 2009. Known as America’s foremost youth leadership organization, HOBY has a long and impressive history of successfully motivating youth and volunteers to outstanding leadership. HOBY aims to inspire and develop the global community of youth & volunteers to a life dedicated to leadership, service, and innovation.
Regionally, students participate in a 3 – 4 day program at Ohio Northern in Ada, Ohio. Brookside School Counselor Kelsey Bilak coordinated the selection process for this year and remarked, “Thank you again for sponsoring our students. Both had such an amazing experience, and they plan on returning next year as junior facilitators!”
Many Rotarians had their first look at the hands-on training associated with the MEMS curriculum at LCCC when they toured there last month. LCCC offers a job-focused program with a one-year MEMS certificate, an A.A.S. in mechatronics technology – micro electromechanical systems or a bachelor’s in applied science MEMS. Program Coordinator Johnny Vanderford and Professor Manny Alhusayni shared their enthusiasm for the MEMs program’s growth. Johnny demonstrated the incredible skill required to hand solder at millimeter scale on a printed circuit board. Most exciting was learning about the students’ successes as they work at local businesses like Rockwell Automation and others while pursuing their degrees. The LCCC MEMS program continues to garner national attention and most recently was featured in an article in the Christian Science Monitor.
The Paul Harris Fellow recognition program acknowledges individuals who contribute, or who have contributions made in their name, of $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary International.
At a wonderful dinner at LCCC Sage & Seed, Joe Matuscak, President of North Coast Rotary surprised Gina Eschke and Larry Calabrese who have done so much for our club and foundation, with Paul Harris recognition pins.
Gina first joined Rotary in 2004 and served as club president in 2010-2011. Gina manages the scholarship process, serves on the Board, and actively participates in most projects and events. In the past, Gina held District leadership roles and had responsibility for guiding the Rotary youth program Interact.
Larry Calabrese first joined Rotary in 2013 and has served as Treasurer and on the Board since 2016. Larry has filled many roles with no titles to describe what he does for the club; zoom coordinator; business expo and safety fair representative; and on-line and sponsorship fundraiser chair.
This is the second Paul Harris recognition award for both Larry and Gina and they each received a Paul Harris pin with a sapphire stone.
Rotarians, Rotary’s youth group Interact and Sprenger Towne Center staff collaborated to beautify the enclosed garden area of the Parkway Memory Care Building. With this improvement residents will be able to enjoy a beautiful and peaceful place for many hours this spring and summer.
“The food was outstanding, the keyboardist was perfection, the wine selection was nicely chosen by Pete Sandrev, the venue had a lovely ambiance, and it was a nice touch to have the artwork sale to benefit Ukraine” were some of the comments from our guests!
North Coast Rotary thanks our guests, sponsors and volunteers for a successful and fun wine-tasting event at LCCC Spitzer Conference Center April 29th. Sponsors included: Lorain County Community College, Peter & Co. Jewelers, The Urig Family Foundation, Dr. Cathy Pugh, The Avon Wine Room, Braeden Friss, Agent State Farm and the First Federal Savings of Lorain. Rotarians and friends and local businesses donated $1500 in raffle baskets.
More than 80 guests attended, resulting in over $3000 to support North Coast Rotary Foundation’s community and youth initiatives. An additional $250 was donated to the Rotary Foundation Ukraine Fund.
As of the beginning of May, Ridge Cleaners had provided hundreds of clean, sanitized blankets to Blessing House, Neighborhood Alliance and the Good Knights organizations.
The Blankets for Beds campaign began March 1st. Community members generously donated new and gently used blankets, and these donations are continuing every week. 300+ Blankets were donated by two Avon Lake School organizations and the Sheffield/Sheffield Lake schools are in the midst of a district-wide collection finishing up this month.
As blankets are cleaned and sanitized, they will be distributed to participating organizations.
Photo: Lisa Sebastian, Owner and President Ridge Cleaners and staff members
This spring, for the seventh year, Avon and Avon Lake 7th and 8th grade students participated in North Coast Rotary’s essay contest. Each student prepares an essay applying an ethical decision-making tool (the 4-way test) to their life experiences or society. Both Districts submit their top finalists to North Coast Rotary’s competition. A committee of Rotarians reviews and evaluates each essay for focus, content development, style, and other factors and selects first, second and third place winners.
Congratulations to these students for their effort and achievement, and much thanks to their Language Arts teachers for their support in this endeavor.
Avon Lake’s Caroline Wells, Lucia Durbin and Aubrey Kozar won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place respectively for the overall competition and for their school district.
Fatma Abdelnaby, Isabella Gentile and Reagan Sudik won 1st, 2nd and 3rd place for Avon.
4th Place finalists included Deana Abedeljaber, Ava Luchesi, Jocelin Ochs, Amira Owens, Baya Rojek and Kaylin Whatley.
Adopted by Rotary in 1943, The Four-Way Test asks that of the things we think, say or do:
1. Is it the TRUTH? 2. Is it FAIR to all Concerned? 3. Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? 4. Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
On Tri-C’s 60th anniversary, Rotarian and Tri-C Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Kris Walz and Campus President Scott Latiolais and other Campus leadership showed Rotarians the Westshore campus, first opened in 2011 and significantly expanded in 2019. The naturally lit open areas, special Veterans Support lounge, newly opened food pantry and one-stop student support center complement the lecture hall, labs and training rooms to help students be successful on this campus. New scholarship opportunities were also announced for students in Avon, Avon Lake and North Ridgeville.
First Federal Lorain Personal Banker Thomas Pihlblad and retired 30-year Navy veteran Jamie Wise were recently inducted into Rotary membership. Our club and foundation are already stronger with their involvement.
With Thomas’s support First Federal Lorain became a sponsor of the Sip & Support fundraiser. Jamie Wise immediately became involved in the scholarship review committee process.
North Coast Rotary Club and Foundation 