New Junior Rotarians for 2023 from Humble ISD high schools were introduced to Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area members at their regular Wednesday luncheon meeting on January 11 at the Lake Houston Family YMCA. Pictured here with this year’s Junior Rotarians (standing, left to right) are: Sophia Leigh and Trey McGlaun, Atascocita High; Claryssa Mitchell, Humble High; Liliana Mandujano and Christopher Kuhlmann, Sconzo Early College High; Saj Gunner and Lorenzo Collazo, Summer Creek High; Avonte Jones, Humble High; Matthew Morris, Kingwood High; (seated, left to right) Reese Shaw, Kingwood Park High; JR committee members Christy Tarkington and Jennifer Karlstrom; Addie Colescott, Kingwood Park High; and Ellie Neuman, Kingwood High.
Twelve Humble ISD students have been accepted into the 2023 Junior Rotarian Program sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area. The Junior Rotarian program is composed of high school students who have demonstrated leadership both in the classroom and in the community.
This year’s Junior Rotarian program is a one-year recognition and leadership program for students which includes community service, fellowship, leadership activities, and mentorship. Each Humble ISD high school has two students participating in the program. Students may be eligible for a scholarship grant after completing the program.
The students in this year’s Junior Rotarian Program were introduced to Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area members at their regular Wednesday luncheon meeting on January 11 at the Lake Houston Family YMCA.
The students in this year’s Junior Rotarian Program were introduced to Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area members at their regular Wednesday luncheon meeting on January 11 at the Lake Houston Family YMCA.
Rotary believes in developing the next generation of leaders. Our programs help younger leaders build leadership skills, expand their education and learn the value of service.
Students are selected through a rigorous application process that begins with a nomination from the school counselor. Selection is based upon academic achievement, community service and leadership. Letters of recommendation are also submitted by a student’s principal, counselor or teacher.
In addition to peer interaction, mentors from the Rotary Club of Lake Houston are available to these Junior Rotarians based on career interests. Each student will have the opportunity to participate in an essay contest. Upon completing the program, students will be asked during exit interviews to talk about how the values of Rotary may affect their future.
In addition to peer interaction, mentors from the Rotary Club of Lake Houston are available to these Junior Rotarians based on career interests. Each student will have the opportunity to participate in an essay contest. Upon completing the program, students will be asked during exit interviews to talk about how the values of Rotary may affect their future.
The mission of the Junior Rotarian Program is to provide a sense of the guiding principles of Rotary – integrity, fairness, honesty, goodwill, and respect through community service, fellowship, and leadership activities among the youth.
The program focuses on five goals:
- Promote an ethic of “service above self” for Junior Rotarians
- Empower Junior Rotarians as community leaders
- Build comradery amongst Junior Rotarians from all local high schools
- Expand Junior Rotarians’ exposure to and network of professionals
- Imbue personal commitment to and character of the Four-Way test
Former Humble ISD Superintendent Dr. Guy Sconzo and Bonnie Longnion, a Rotary Club member, envisioned a Rotary program that would provide new opportunities for Humble ISD students to get involved in their community. After several years of discussion and planning, the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area (formerly Humble Rotary) first began the Junior Rotarian program for the 2016-2017 school year. The program was modeled from a highly successful Junior Rotarian program in Oklahoma City.
“Humble ISD spent six months conducting a nationwide search of Junior Rotarian programs to create what would be the perfect fit for our district,” Dr. Roger Brown, Humble ISD Deputy Superintendent, said.
The Junior Rotarian program is just one of the many student programs and community humanitarian initiatives that the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area has implemented over the last 50 years.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Lake Houston Area, visit our website at www.LHARotary.com or be our guest at our one of our regular Noon, Wednesday meetings at the Lake Houston Family YMCA in Kingwood.