Raymond students win Rotary Club Humanitarian Scholarship awards
Raymond High School had their 2017-2018 school awards ceremony Dec. 20 where four Grade 12 students were presented with Rotary Club Humanitarian Awards, awards that are presented to those who make contributions to the community or humanitarian efforts in the form of service.
“The Rotary Club of Raymond, Rotary District 5360 and The Live Like Lili Foundation have pooled resources to present four students with scholarships for $450,” Val Boehme, President of the Rotary Club in Raymond, said.
The awards, which included $450 scholarships to any post-secondary institution, were presented to Cassie Salmon, Brooklyn Thomson, Carolyn Baldry, and Maddie Galbraith, all of whom spent the past summer volunteering with NGO -HEFY, with one volunteering in Thailand and three volunteering in Central America.
“Volunteering just makes me more thankful for what I have in my life,” Carolyn Baldry said. “Some people don't have anything, yet they're so happy and grateful. I think that it helps me to realize that I can be more grateful in my own life, for what I have, and how advantaged I am.”
Boehme said the Rotary Club submitted the criteria to the High School for outstanding Volunteering in Community or Humanitarian Service and they were anticipating awards for first, second, and third place, but the high school instead recommended that the Scholarship be awarded equally to the four students.
Cassie Salmon said she was very grateful for the experience and although it was hard work, she felt like she made a difference for others with her volunteering.
“I think it was a really good opportunity for us to learn about life outside of our little town and to be able to see that there are there problems in this world that we should be taking into account and can help with,” Maddie Galbraith said.
Brooklyn Thomson said that it’s just good to know that we as people can make a difference even if it starts with helping just one person at a time.
“President John Kennedy stated ‘…ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country…’ I think these students exemplify that,” Boehme explained.
“They think not what the world can do for them, but what they can do for the world. The motto at the bottom of the certificate is the Rotary motto Service Above Self; that has been a long-standing of the Rotary International right from the get-go and their work this summer has exemplified that.”