Prince Frederick, MD – They rule the schools and Monday evening, Nov. 13 the Calvert-Prince Frederick and Solomons Optimist Clubs treated them to dinner and lauded their accomplishments. Forty seniors—10 each from Calvert County’s four public high schools—were honored as part of Optimist International’s Youth Appreciation Week. The event was held at St. John Vianney Family Life Center in Prince Frederick.
“The good kids, that’s what we’re looking for,” said the club’s Youth Appreciation Week chairman, Ed Dorsey. The Optimists were aided in their selection process by educators at each school who acted as coordinators. Those coordinators were LeTea Perry of Northern High School (NHS), Zelma Mark of Huntingtown High School (HHS), Billy Joe Aris of Calvert High School (CHS) and Karin Ryon of Patuxent High School (PHS).
The students selected are members of several school organizations, athletic teams; excel in the classroom, are active in their respective communities and often have plans and goals for the future.
Solomons Optimist Club President Al Fissel noted that the students’ positive impact on the community was reflected in The Optimist Creed, “Promise Yourself.” Fissel said, “we are honoring the students but also honoring their parents and teachers.”
“We enjoy doing this,” said Calvert Optimist Club President Jack Brown. “The kids deserve pats on the back. So do the families”
“This is the biggest Youth Appreciation Week event I’ve ever attended,” declared Maryland-South Delaware Optimist District Governor Bill Stone, who led the gathering in reciting the creed.
In addition to urging adults in the room to join the local Optimist Clubs and the youth to consider being part of a Junior Optimist Club revival in Calvert, the club members reminded everyone that in a few weeks Christmas tree sales will begin. Dorsey noted that the sales at the tree lots yield the cash that Optimists spin into scholarships for area youth. He stated that the previous tree lot sale provided the club with $17,000 in scholarship money.
The dinner, served buffet-style, was prepared and arranged by Maryland Country Caterers.
Calvert County’s 2017 Youth Appreciation Week honorees are:
CHS – Angelique M. Almuete, Theodore B. Danielson, John F. Dodsworth, David K. Johnson, Kaitlin H. McCloskey, Kristian P. Moller, Alexis M. Rinker, Julia R. Roush, Hope C. Smith and William L. Wood.
HHS – Samantha A. Bolin, Megan L. Coffren, Elizabeth P.M. Diamond, Alyssa T. Gibson, Stefanie D. McBeth, Casey R. Ottenwaelder, Alexis A. Pearman, Mia T. Sirman, Joshua A. Weems and Dyllon T. Wolf.
NHS – Eliza J. Barcenilla, Holden Beauzile, Samirah A. Brown, Mabel Carter, Michael J. Cashman IV, Jessica M. Drake, Brianna N. Gross, David E. Mendez, Lacie D. Roby and Abigail K. Sweeney.
PHS – Lila C. Biggar, Kathryn E. Briggs, Andrew S. Clinton, Marlee A. Gately, Scott J. Harbaugh, Marshall P. Lanning, Abigail F. Lastinger, Tiffany N. Lyon, Nicole Elizabeth Smith and Alexia L. Smith.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
