Weston and Wayland sophomores earn Rotary award

 
Caption: From left, Gary Vitti, vice president of The Village Bank, joined Wayland High School Principal Allyson Mizoguchi to congratulate Emily Rubin of Wayland and Shraddha Lulla of Weston, along with Kenneth Brennan, chairman of the board of The Village Bank, and Weston High School Principal Anthony Parker on Nov. 15 at the Weston Golf Club. 
 

Emily Rubin of Wayland and Shraddha Lulla of Weston serve their communities generously. They received the November 2018 Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA), presented by the Rotary Club of Weston and Wayland, on Nov. 15. Both sophomores were also recognized with citations from Reps. Alice Peisch, D-Wellesley, Carmine Gentile, D-Sudbury, and the Massachusetts House of Representatives.

Kenneth Brennan, chairman of the board of The Village Bank, attended with Gary Vitti, vice president, to applaud the students’ service, saying, “It is encouraging to know that so many of today’s youth are committed to service for others. Emily Rubin and Shraddha Lulla are perfect examples of young people who are devoting their energy, time and talent to helping wherever help is needed. They are our neighbors and, chances are, the future leaders of our communities.”

Emily Rubin was nominated by Julia Cleary and Rohini Ramesh, Wayland High School students who, as previous award winners, recognized Rubin’s contributions. Cleary identified Rubin’s passion for cooking, as she regularly participates in Community Cooks with her temple to cook a meal for a women’s homeless shelter. She, along with her parents, then deliver the meals with a handmade menu. Rubin also volunteers weekly with a group of teens who visit a home for mentally disabled adults to entertain and keep them company.

See the story on WickedLocal.com. 

Rohini Ramesh, also a student at Wayland High School, seconded the nomination of Rubin. She acknowledged Rubin’s participation in the Jewish Teen Foundation of Greater Boston where participants select and focus on an important issue each year. This year, the issue is sexual assault. The students learn about nonprofit organizations that address the issue and then work to raise funds for these organizations. Ramesh also commended Rubin’s participation with Teen Safe, a group of teens who come together once a month to discuss healthy relationships and, at the end of the year, present to different schools about relationships.

Shraddha Lulla of Weston received multiple nominations from school counselors and community members. Samson Luu, guidance counselor at Weston High School, nominated Lulla for her work as a volunteer with the younger students at Shishu Bharati, an Indian school. Lulla explained to the assembled audience that Shishu Bharati is a “School of Languages and Culture of India” where she volunteers every Sunday with kindergarten children.

Lulla’s list of activities and accomplishments is extensive. She has earned the Silver Award from Girl Scouts and is working toward her Gold Award, where her project will focus on how cooking and music can be used by high school students to manage stress.

Lulla is a class representative for the Asian Student Union, an officer of the SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) club, and a student representative on the Weston Health Advisory Council. She is helping to start a Badminton Club and, for the past three years, has assisted the coaches of the fourth- and fifth-grade Math Olympiad at Field School.

Gretchen Gugliotta, also a counselor at Weston High School, acknowledged Lulla as a Student Ambassador who helps support ninth-graders and new students transitioning to the high school. “Shraddha,” said Gugliotta, “is warm and welcoming, and always one of the first to volunteer for any activities. Shraddha is someone I know I can always count on.”

The Rotary Rising Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) recognizes sophomores from Weston and Wayland for community service and leadership that demonstrates the students’ appreciation of the Rotary ideal of “service above self.” Any sophomore who lives or studies in Weston or Wayland can be nominated by a member of the community (including teachers, coaches, administrators, advisors, students or community leaders) online at WestonWaylandRotary.com. Multiple nominations are encouraged. All nominations submitted at any time are considered each month.

The next award celebration is Jan. 24, 2019. Additional award presentation dates are Feb. 28, March 21 and April 25.

Each student selected as an award recipient will be encouraged to apply to represent Wayland and Weston at the 2019 Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, a three-day leadership conference held annually in Massachusetts. In years past, approximately 200 students along with 200 volunteers take part in this weekend conference.

The Weston Wayland Rotary Club (WWRC) has numerous events in December. Anyone who is interested is invited to come ring the Salvation Army bells, serve dinner at Bristol Lodge, participate in the Holiday Gift Giving to Mary’s Home, hear Cecily Cassum speak about the Weston Art and Innovation Center where she will present a video on makerspaces, or attend the Holiday Party on Thursday, Dec. 6 at Sandy Burr Golf Club.

If you would like to learn more about the Weston Wayland Rotary Club, get involved, or join the club for any upcoming event or weekly club gathering please check out the club’s website at westonwaylandrotary.com.

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