Rotarians recognize area academic achievements

The Houlton Rotary Club held their annual Rotary Student Recognition Day on May 4 at St. Anthony’s Hall. Approximately 200 students were guests of the local Rotary Club for a luncheon and a program. Students were recognized for their individual academic achievements and each was given a certificate.
    The Rotarians also presented a highly coveted Service Above Self Award to the students from the Greater Houlton Christian Academy.
     This award is all about community. Community, defined in its simplest terms, is a group of people who have something in common. But in real life a community is something far more complex than that. Each member of a community — every individual, group, organization and business draws benefits from that community in many different ways. For a community to thrive each of its members must honor a commitment to contribute to the well being of the whole by returning those benefits in kind.
Rotarians recognize the importance of giving to the community. Service lies at the heart of the Rotary movement. It defines Rotary’s character “Service Above Self”. Every Rotary Club and every Rotarian assumes a responsibility to find ways to improve the quality of life for those in their community and to serve the public interest.
Rotary’s President-elect, John Tribou said to the students, “You are a viable and important part of our community. Your service to our community is needed in order to make it thrive. We are asking you to join Rotarians in putting your time and talents to use through community service projects that will contribute to the greater good of your local friends and neighbors.”
The Houlton Rotary Club initiated the Service Above Self award presented to a high school that has participated and exemplified Rotary’s expectation for a community service project.
This is a traveling plaque given to a local school with their name engraved, then returned after one year so that it can be awarded to another high school that again exemplifies Rotary’s Service Above Self motto.
Some of the projects that the students from GHCA are involved in are, making regular visits to Madigan Estates and Gardiner health care facilities, where they minister and sing for the residents. They also serve Meals on Wheels four days a week to the elderly, wash windows at Cary Library, prepare Living Waters Bible Conference Center for the summer season, work on the Wesleyan Church Food Pantry, participate in the Red Cross blood drive, volunteer at the Houlton Humane Society, visit Ricker Plaza with Christmas carolers and assist with Christmas decorating and party at Madigan Estates.
“Through the generous donation of their time and talents the entire student body of the Greater Houlton Christian Academy indeed exemplifies the character of Service above Self,” said Tribou.