Rotary Club Honors Top 10 Percent of Local High School Seniors

The jazz band helped set the mood as families, dignitaries, school administrators, public figures, and organization leaders came together Monday night in the elegantly adorned ballroom of the to support the Bolingbrook Rotary Club in lauding the village's top 10 percent of graduating seniors.

The banquet was originated 54 years ago by a small group of Lockport merchants. In later years, its organization was taken on by the Lockport Rotary Club to honor outstanding students in Lockport Township and then to include DuPage Township and Bolingbrook.

The Bolingbrook Rotary Club, which is one of the oldest organizations in the village, consists of a broad range of business and professional leaders who are dedicated to humanitarian service, upholding high standards of character and integrity and encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations.

Above all, the object of the Rotary Club is to encourage and foster the ideal of service above self and help build goodwill and peace in the world.

"We are here to honor these students for their diligence and self-discipline in achieving excellent grades," Club President Alyssia Benford said. "We hold one fundraiser a year and it supports it."

Although all of the 65 honorees live within Bolingbrook, they come from three schools' graduating classes representing Bolingbrook High School, Plainfield East High School or Nequa Valley High School in Naperville.

"This is the 37th annual program the Rotary has sponsored. It's a great program to work on," banquet chairman Ron Oestreich said. "I honestly can’t thank Kathy (Fiorini, secretary to the principal at Bolingbrook High School,) enough for her persistence, follow through, and partnership in this program. She helps us make sure students get their information in. This is important because we want to make sure we recognize everyone and get their certificates in their hands."

The information Oestreich speaks of is the form that asks students to answer one of four questions posed about their parents, a favorite moment in school, favorite teacher or how they’d want to change the world.

Those answers are distributed to current Rotarians (each has six students to introduce) who are charged with painting a portrait of the students. Before the beginning of the program, Rotarians and students engaged in spirited discussions.

Many of the students were a little starstruck as they learned at the start of the program who had made it a priority to show their support. Indeed the night was a veritable evening of the local "who’s who."

Movers, shakers and decision-makers were sprinkled at many tables. A notable few included Mayor Roger Claar, Deputy Mayor Leroy Brown, outgoing Superintendent Philip Shofstall, incoming Superintendent Jim Mitchem (whose son Kevin was honored), School Board Member Liz Campbell, Valley View Education Foundation President Mike Lawler, Village Trustee Rick Morales, and Village Clerk Carol Penning.

Their presence seemed to tinge the room with extra added excitement, even though just being there was more than enough for the parents at the Plainfield East table.

"We’re so proud of him," said Scott Fauque, referring to his son Jared Fauque. "He worked about twice as hard as I did in high school. And I’m just here. I give a lot of credit to the support from his mom."

Meanwhile, Romelda Jordan's daughter Ariel Jordan also is in the top 10 percent at Plainfield East.

"Ariel is one of those kids who always sets goals and had achieved whatever she put her minds on," Jones said. "I’m just in awe of her!"

The accolades continued at the Bolingbrook High School table as Major Jones and his wife Melanie beamed with pride at their successful daughter, Brianna, who plans to pursue a double major in public relations and marketing at the University of Iowa.

"We don’t have enough time for me to say all that I feel. When I look at her, my chest swells up," Major said. "She’s self motivated and works hard. We never had to push her. She handled everything so well, stayed on top of her school work and still found time to be involved in school activities. She’s just the type of child you dream about having."

Honorees Brittany DeVipo, who’s on her way to the University of Minnesota, and Eileen Brister, who will attend Bradley, have been friends since kindergarten, joined Girl Scouts together and have always been each other’s cheerleaders.

"They’ve never been in competition," said Brittany's mom Eileen. "Just always been the best of friends. Its been great to watch them surround themselves with those who achieve and a great night for us to show them how much we do now and will continue to support them in the future."

The Bolingbrook Rotary Club meets at 12:15 p.m. every Tuesday at . To learn more about the group, visit its website.