LYNN — The Rotary Club of Lynn recognized eighth grade students from different middle schools around the city on Wednesday, a tradition they’ve continued since 2008.
These are students who have struggled with some adversity during the school year or who have shown empathy toward others in an outstanding way. The students honored were Aiden Crowell (Pickering), Leana Martin (Lynn Vocational Technical Institute), Niydah Lao (Thurgood Marshall), Anastasia Butova (St. Mary’s), Humberto Marcano (Breed), Andrew Gandra (North Shore Christian School) Samarah Wilkie (St. Pius V) and Aly Kheal-Phanna.
Students were nominated by their teacher or guidance counselor and invited to a luncheon meeting of the members. There, they were individually presented with a gift certificate to a local bookstore and a Certificate of Achievement. River Works Credit Union sponsored the event.
During the individual presentations, a narrative was read by Rotarians John Dolan, who is the St. Mary’s Head of Schools; Irene Cowdell, a retired Lynn Teacher; Cindy McCarthy, a retired St. Pius V teacher; And Claire Price, a Lynn Vocational Technical Institute teacher. They listed the various situations the students struggled with and how they overcame those situations.
Prior to the presentation, Raymond Bastarache, former Club President and former Deputy Superintendent of Schools, indicated the importance of this program. He said, “One can tell how valued this program is to the City of Lynn by the people in attendance.”
Those in attendance included Police Chief Chris Reddy, Deputy Superintendents of Schools Maricel Goris and Dolan.
The Eighth Grade Recognition Program was created by Rotarían and Lynn businessman Joe Coombs who always felt that the eighth grade was a turning point in his life. He acknowledges how “lost” he felt during those middle-school years, and if it had not been for a compassionate teacher who took him aside and supported him, he doubts he would’ve been as successful as he was as an adult. Coombs’ success was derived from the positive reinforcement and support he received in middle school, which led him to petition his fellow Rotarians to adopt the program. Since its inception, it is safe to say that well over 500 students have been recognized by the Lynn Rotary Club.
