Rotary recognizes November students of the month

The Maricopa Rotary Club recognized a theatrical high school senior, as well as an eighth-grade “model student” Wednesday night as November Students of the Month.

College and Career Counselor Bernadette Russionello nominated Maricopa High School student Ivie Keene for the accolade. The senior is involved in a school mentorship group, National Honor Society and DECA.

Keene also holds leadership positions in school theatre as a student director and actor and is president of the Arizona Thespian Society.

“Rotary is told that she is a phenomenal student since her freshman year, with a positive attitude, unstoppable work ethic and commitment to school and your community,” said Alma Farrell, Rotary youth coordinator.

Keene aspires to be involved in Broadway one day, “but is also willing to return to MHS to be an English and theatre teacher,” Farrell added.

Desert Wind Middle School Principal June Celaya nominated Raymond Torres as “the type of student that teachers hope to have.”

Farrell reported Torres as being described by school officials as a “quiet leader,” model student and hard worker.

Torres is involved in athletics and various after school activities and was praised for being a positive role model for other students.

“(He) work(s) extremely hard on each and every assignment, going above and beyond teacher expectations and he is a great leader across all grade levels and gets along with everyone,” Farrell reported.

Torres and Keene were accompanied by their parents and siblings during the ceremony which Rotary holds monthly inside the Maricopa Unified School District Administration Office during governing board meetings.

The Maricopa Rotary Club was founded in 1954 and is part of an international, service-oriented, non-profit organization.

“We hope they will be our future leaders of our community and it’s very good for them to start at this early age to learn how to be leaders,” Farrell said.