[Peoria, Arizona | April 2025] — The Peoria North Rotary Club recognized Peoria Unified School District "Students of the Month" for March and April during a ceremony held April 25 at Peoria High School.

 

Students from Peoria High School, Peoria Flex Academy, Ironwood High School and Centennial High School were recognized and presented with a $150 stipend as well as a certificate signifying the club had donated a wheelchair in their names to a disabled person living in Mexico.

 

In addition to honoring students at the four PUSD high schools, the club also recognizes in a separate ceremony Students of the Month at Mountain Ridge High School in Glendale.

 

During the April 25 event, the club for the first time also recognized top media arts students at each of the four PUSD schools. The award is co-sponsored by Huntington University's campus in Peoria.

 

Dave Evans, the club's Youth Services Chair, served as emcee for the event and introduced faculty from each high school to announce their honorees. Students of the Month honored April 25:

 

Peoria High School: Rylie Brooks, March, and Dawn Drake for April.

Peoria Flex Academy: Kitera Thomas, April.

Ironwood High School: Violet Luna, March, and Trinity Haver, April.

Centennial High School: Shane Harmon, March, and Jacob Sajan for April.

 

Receiving the Media Arts Student of the Semester Award were Julianna Ronfeldt, Ironwood High School; Gavin Niemeyer, Peoria Flex Academy; Brooklyn Koressel, Peoria High School; and Gerald Heck, Centennial High School.

 

"Our club is so happy and proud to recognize these students," said Dave Evans. "These students really represent the best of the best in the Peoria Unified School District."

 

Rotary is an international service organization with over 1.4 million members throughout the world.

 

The Peoria North Rotary Club is a strong supporter of education and literacy and has for many years provided dictionaries to all third-grade students in the district. Two years ago, the club launched its George and Willi Wheeler Scholarship, which provides financial assistance to PUSD students attending college after graduation from high school. For the past 15 years the club has also sponsored The Prom Closet, an annual event that provides formal wear free of charge to high school students attending their school prom.

 

The club meets 6 p.m. Wednesday at Briarwood Country Club in Sun City West. Prospective members are welcome to attend. Visit the club's website for additional information.

 

Rotary members improve lives and bring positive, lasting change to communities around the world by promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water and sanitation, supporting education, saving mothers and children, growing local economies and protecting the environment. Rotary’s top priority is the global eradication of polio. Rotary launched its polio immunization program, PolioPlus, in 1985, and in 1988 became a leading partner in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

 

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders dedicated to tackling the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. Rotary connects 1.4 million members of more than 46,000 Rotary clubs in over 200 countries and geographical areas. Their work improves lives at both the local and international levels, from helping those in need in their own communities to working toward a polio-free world. For more information, visit Rotary.org.

 

For more information about Rotary in Arizona, visit the District 5495 website. For information on joining a local Rotary Club, email membership@rotary5495.org.

 

 

CONTACT:
 

John Calhoun, president of the Peoria North Rotary Club, (602) 739-0386

Dave Evans, PNRC Youth Services chair, (623) 680-9119