The Portola Jr/Sr High School Interact Club reports that they recently received official recognition from Rotary International. Interact clubs bring together young people aged 12-18 to develop leadership skills while discovering the power of “Service Above Self,” the motto of Rotary. To celebrate, Interact students and Rotarians gathered in the library to share a meal provided by local Roatarian Matt Cruse, and present certificates.
Club activities
Though the Interact Club has been active on the Portola High School campus in the past, the club was on hiatus for several years before it was rejuvenated this past spring under the enthusiastic leadership of Niecea Freeman. Since then, club members volunteer activities have included planting trees and highway clean-up, and support for events such as the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship’s Gravel Grinder race, the Rotary Fly-In Breakfast, Twisty-M fundraiser for the Emily Wilbanks scholarship, and more. Upcoming volunteer opportunities are expected to include the annual Thanksgiving in a Box and the December Community Supper. Students are also encouraged to explore “Service Above Self” independently, and pursue the volunteer activities that they would like to see in their community, organizers said.
Club members currently include 19 high school and 12 junior high students. They are busy electing their officers for this school year and designing the t-shirts they will wear for events.
“Our schools are the hub of our communities in rural America; direct reflections of our local landscape, neighborhoods, and families; closely connected to the social, political, and economic factors in Plumas County,” said Freeman. “For that reason, Portola Jr/Sr High is proud to be partnering with the Rotary of Portola to empower our school and the youth in our community to become agents of change, leadership, and service.” She expressed gratitude for the support of Rotarians in reinvigorating the PHS Interact Club.
A matching program amplifies impact
This year, the Rotary Club of Portola has agreed to financially match Interact students’ fundraising endeavors towards their service projects.
“The Rotary Club of Portola is excited to be collaborating with the Portola High School Interact Club. We look forward to working with these outstanding students in their projects to benefit both the school and their community,” said Rotary President Doug McCoy.
Information submitted by Rotary Club of Portola
