Rotary honors area students

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January Youth Merit Award winners, standing: B.J. Ryan, Andrew Margason, William Girard; seated: Gabi Seo, Hannah Smiles and Madeline Beja. | Rotary Club of Hinsdale photo.

Updated: January 20, 2012 10:51AM

Six students who attend Clarendon Hills Middle School, Hinsdale Middle School and Hinsdale Central High School received the Rotary Club of Hinsdale’s Youth Merit Award Jan. 6.

This award recognizes high school and middle school students for scholarship, leadership and service. The Rotary Club honors students from area public and private schools at award ceremonies several times each school year.

Staff members at Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale Middle School, Clarendon Hills Middle School, Hinsdale Adventist Academy and St. Isaac Jogues School nominate students. The award winners attend a Rotary meeting, address the club members about their activities and interests, and receive a certificate to commemorate the occasion.

Middle school students attend with their parents and invite an individual they consider their influential teacher. Teachers invited in January were Debby Cornacchia, Jane Fetty, Vicky Freiberg, Lori Stellwagen and Theresa Wilkie.

The Jan. 6 program was the fourth Youth Merit Award presentation of the 2011-12 school year.

The following students earned the award:

Madeline Beja, senior, Hinsdale Central High School

William Girard, eighth grade, Clarendon Hills Middle School

Andrew Margason, eighth grade, Hinsdale Middle School

Brendan (B.J.) Ryan, eighth grade, Hinsdale Middle School

Gabi Seo, eighth grade, Hinsdale Middle School

Hannah Smiles, eighth grade, Clarendon Hills Middle School.

The Rotary Club of Hinsdale meets weekly at 12:15 p.m. at the Community House in Hinsdale. For more information, visit www.hinsdalerotary.org.