On September 12, 2012, Coronado Rotary celebrated its Fifth Avenue of Service, New Generations, with a presentation highlighting the activities, community and international service projects, and exchange programs that Coronado Rotary supports for young people.
At Coronado Middle School Rotary sponsors LEAD, which improves leadership skills for 8th graders; Everyone a Reader; 6th Grade Camp, Coronado Youth Cheer; Football; Soccer; Softball; Little League; and Scouting.
At Coronado High School Rotary supports a Model UN team with Faculty Advisor Kellie Moore and Rotarian Ron Vernetti overseeing; and Delegate Wright Smith shared his challenging experience at a mock session of the UN General Assembly.
The Rotary Youth Leadership Academy or RYLA supports the Six Pillars of Education by selecting up to 11 CHS students annually. Mary Grace Braun was one of those chosen for the Coronado prestigious RYLA award, which qualified her to participate in a three-day area-wide conference for student leaders.
Other programs include the Student Rotarian of the Month chosen by CHS faculty, (Matt Ovrom for September, an honor that President Walt Heinecke also was chosen for at CHS 55 years ago); A $10,000 annual scholarship to graduating seniors; Career Day; Summer Jobs Fair; Arts Program; Athletics Awards; Four Way Speech Contest; CHS Robotics Team; Sailing Team; Islander Sports Foundation; and the Coronado School of the Arts. In addition, Rotary’s Interact club members work on international projects throughout the year and participate in Coronado Beach Clean-Up, Rotarians at Work Day, and the Pancake Breakfast.
Romyn Sabatchi is the President of the University of San Diego’s Rotaract Club, which Coronado along with Del Mar and La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Clubs support with guidance and funds. The USD Rotaract Club is modeled after the Rotary Avenues of Service and is involved in projects such as 1000 Smiles and projects of their own design.
Rotary International has long valued Youth Exchange. Coronado Rotary supports international students on short, long and summer camp exchanges, that is, an annual Long-Term Inbound student and Summer Camp Inbound and Outbound students. Nathan Berge from Belgium is now spending his senior year at CHS, hosted by three Coronado families. Catherine Clausen, a Junior at CHS participated in Rotary’s Short Term Family-to-Family Exchange program this past summer. Her family hosted a student from Germany for three weeks, after which, Catherine traveled to Germany to spend time with her host sister and family. Kendall Reeder spent two weeks in Turkey, and Elena Wong was in Hungary for their Summer Camps. All spoke of being enriched by the experience and anticipating more international travel in the future.
Rotarian Mark Warner is the New Generations Chair. Along with Patty Cowan as Rotary’s Youth Protection Officer and Karen Strabala, Youth Exchange Officer and many others, Coronado Rotary is proud of its large and diverse service to youth.
Anyone with an interest in serving others or in the International Youth Exchange Program is encouraged to contact Rotary at 435-8334 or [email protected].
