SOUTH PLAINFIELD, N - The Rotary Club of the Plainfields presented Student of the Month Awards to six deserving seniors from South Plainfield High School at a special breakfast meeting held in their honor on February 11 at the Park Avenue Diner.
Two students were selected to receive awards for September, October and November. Each student was recognized for their scholastic achievement, their involvement in school-based and extra-curricular activities, particularly those that benefit others. Assistant Principal Dana Kurilew represented the high school, and parents and Rotary Club members were there to applaud each award recipient.
SPHS December Rotary Students:
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Avery Green
Avery will attend college for civil engineering and architecture, and hopes to have her own HGTV show one day. Currently, she takes seven advanced placement classes, from art to chemistry. Avery plays tennis and manages the boys’ varsity basketball team for high school. She is also president of the mental health club and vice president of the debate club. Avery has done Irish step dance for almost ten years, and dance in general for sixteen. With Avery are her mom, dad and boyfriend Sean.
Aashna Thakkar
Aashna is a passionate student, balancing challenging courses while pursuing activities focused on human rights and service. She is the founder of the UNICEF Club, providing humanitarian aid to families and advocating for children’s rights. She is a part of Heroes and Cool Kids, has served on the executive boards of the REDA and Environmental Science Club, and is the recipient of the DAR Good Citizens Award. She has also been a volunteer at the South Plainfield Library since 2022, calling it her second home. In her future, she aspires to become a lawyer to continue making a difference.
SPHS January Rotary Students:
Logan Orcutt
Logan is a senior here at South Plainfield High School. She has been involved in the yearbook club since freshman year as well as the Jerseyan History Club. She joined the varsity bowling in her sophomore year and went on to help the girls win their division titles for the last two years. After high school she wants attend college to earn a degree in social work.
Paige McAuley
Paige McAuley is a senior who has been very active throughout her four years. She was on the varsity softball team for two years, varsity bowling for four, varsity bowling captain for two, is a 3-time division bowling champion, and part of the Jerseyan club, and yearbook club. Paige plans to manage both the baseball and softball teams this spring. She will continue her academic career at Ramapo College of New Jersey, majoring in Accounting and Finance. With Paige are her parents Mara and Rob.
SPHS February Rotary Students:
Aishwarya Pedapati
Aishwarya is a top-ranked senior who is very passionate about science and will pursue a career as a doctor of medicine. She is a leader of many clubs including UNICEF, HerFuture, and HOSA, and a member of the National Honor society and the Spanish Honor society. Aishwarya also volunteers at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Children’s Specialized Hospital. She shadowed doctors and therapists at a family medicine and physical therapy clinic. Her research in the Walksman Student Scholars program at Rutgers was published in the National Center for Biotechnology Information. Hobbies include singing, crocheting, baking, and painting. She also organized and participated in many events at the South Plainfield Public Library.
Emily Tschopp
Emily is a 17 years old senior who attended South Plainfield schools since kindergarten, while also participating in clubs and attending school events. She participates in the high school choir and the chamber choir, and enjoys the teachers and friends met through the music department. Outside of school, Emily is a dancer who has danced since she was two and half. It is a source of enjoyment that she hopes to pursue throughout life. Emily plans to pursue a career in Forensic Chemistry.
The club plans to hold one more quarterly breakfast meeting where they will present award certificates for the remaining months of the school year.
The events are made possible through the sponsorships of local businesses, who were acknowledged at the meeting and in the meeting program. Any funds leftover at the conclusion of this year’s events will be presented as a scholarship to a Student of the Year, yet to be selected.
“The sponsorships are an opportunity to join with us in recognizing these outstanding students,” said Rotary club president Wanda Cruz-Lopez. “Not only are the sponsors applauding the recipients, they are also helping one or more students with next year’s college tuition expense.”
“We have four levels of sponsors – Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze. All sponsors will be recognized in social media postings, press releases, and the program booklet for each presentation,” said Michael Townley, chair of the event. “Sponsor forms are available in a feature story on our club’s website at www.rotarypnp.org, or by emailing RotaryPlainfields@gmail.com or calling (908) 227-6782.”
The Rotary Club of the Plainfields was founded in 1921 and has served the community for over 100 years. Members are community and business leaders in the area who meet on the second and fourth Wednesdays at 12:15 pm at Park Avenue Diner in South Plainfield. Rotarians work on community service, vocational service, and international service projects throughout the year, with their main focus on community service in Plainfield, North Plainfield and South Plainfield. Guests are welcome to attend any club meeting to learn more.
Contact Michael Townley, club secretary, at RotaryPlainfields@gmail.com for additional information about the Rotary Club and its activities or to inquire about membership, or visit the Club’s website at www.rotarypnp.org or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/RotaryPNP.
