NEWS RELEASE
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes presents annual
Educator of the Year and high school scholarship awards
Educator of the Year and high school scholarship awards
[Chandler/Sun Lakes, Arizona, May 2025] The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes recently presented its 2025 Educator of the Year Awards to Chandler Unified School District (CUSD) teachers and scholarships to CUSD High School Students.
At a recent morning RCSL breakfast meeting, Peter Meade, RCSL president, and Becky Kerr, RCSL education committee, announced this year’s recipients.
Angelica Abbey, a sixth-grade teacher at CUSD Frye Elementary School, was named Educator of the Year. Ms. Abbey received a check for $2,000.
Runners-up were Monica Garcia-Larson, English language development teacher at CUSD Hamilton High School, and Kim Meyer, pre-AP biology teacher at CUSD Arizona College Preparatory Middle School. Each teacher received $500.
Educator of the Year Awards were sponsored by Earnhardt Automotive and TrustBank.
Additionally in May 2025, the club presented scholarships to several CUSD high school students. Leo Schlueter, RCSL Rotarian/CUSD Executive Director of Elementary Education, presented Service above Self Scholarship awards of $2,000 to:
- Courtney Hartle, graduating from CUSD Perry High School and attending Arizona State University.
- Deborah He, graduating from CUSD Hamilton High School and attending Vanderbilt University.
- Tessa Chadwick, graduating from Casteel High School and attending University of Utah.
Tecate Phair, an incoming Junior at CUSD Hamilton High School who will be attending EVIT Cosmetology Program for two years, received a vocational scholarship of $2,000.
RCSL scholarship awards are proceeds from the club’s annual golf tournament.
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.
About Rotary
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.
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CONTACT:
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director, mike.honora@cox.net
Peter Meade, President, Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, azpetermeade@gmail.com
From left, Peter Meade, RCSL president and Becky Kerr, RCSL education committee; recognize “Educator of the Year” honorees Angelica Abbey, Monica Garcia-Larson and Kim Meyer.
Leo Schlueter, RCSL Rotarian and CUSD executive director of elementary education, congratulates recipients of scholarships presented by the club. From left, Courtney Hartle, Perry High School; Deborah He, Hamilton High School; Tessa Chadwick, Casteel High School; Tecate Phair, Hamilton High School.