PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Rotary Club of Presque Isle is inviting fellow Rotarians and community members to join them at their upcoming Paul Harris Recognition Evening on Thursday, Nov. 9. The club will be honoring five individuals with Paul Harris Fellow Recognitions. These individuals have demonstrated outstanding community service and support to the Rotary Foundation’s efforts within the community and beyond. Paul Harris Fellow Recognitions are the highest award in Rotary, recognizing those who have either contributed $1,000 to support the Rotary Foundation and those whose life demonstrates a shared purpose with the objectives of the Rotary Foundation.
The club is honored to recognize five community members with this recognition. The first, Rotarian Deborah Roark, currently serves as the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s executive director of University Advancement and External Affairs. Volunteerism and service have been lifelong passions of hers and she is a part of various organizations and boards including the Northern Light Health AR Gould Hospital Board, Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee, Presque Isle Rotary Club, UMPI Foundation, the Rodney and Mary Barton Smith Family Foundation and the Halfway Home Pet Rescue.
Roberta Griffiths will also be honored at the event. A Fort Fairfield native, she has served in many capacities over the years including the UMPI Foundation, UMPI Board of Visitors, the Centennial Committee and the Presque Isle Garden Club where she helped design and maintain the gardens along the Presque Isle bike path known as Downing Park. She is also very active in her church where she has directed the children’s choir, the hand bell choir, and the adult choir.
The third recipient of the evening will be Rachel Rice who serves as the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s director of marketing and communications. She is a past president of the Presque Isle Rotary Club and co-chaired the club’s Purple Pinkie Project for 10 years. She has served her community in several other capacities including being a member of the Special Olympics Area Management Team, a student mentor with the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute and a board member of the Red Cross in Aroostook County.
Dr. Chunzeng Wang is the professor of Earth and Environmental Studies at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. Dr. Wang is a member of the Geological Society of China, America and Maine. He also serves on the International Application Trail Board of Directors, Maine GIS Consortium Board, and the Aroostook Outdoors Board. Relentlessly pursuing teaching and research to engage his students, Dr. Wang continues to create new knowledge of the geology of northern Maine and provides outstanding service to his communities throughout the region.
The final honoree of the evening will be Ray D. Hews (1888-1940). This posthumous recognition is to honor a past President of the Presque Isle Rotary Club who passed away during his Presidency. Ray also served as president of the Northern Aroostook Alumni Association of the University of Maine, vice president of the Katahdin Council and Aroostook District of the Boy Scouts of America, executive committeeman of Maine Potato Growers, and various other boards throughout the area.
Please join members of the PI Rotary Club as we congratulate all five recipients and recognize them for their outstanding commitments to our community. The recognition evening will be hosted in the Northeastland Hotel Ballroom. The social, including refreshments and a cash bar, will be held from 5:30-6:15 p.m. with the program to follow. Tickets are $15 per person and RSVPs are preferred. To RSVP please visit www.presqueislerotary.org/events.
