New student recognition program begins in Fort
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
FORT FAIRFIELD — The Fort Fairfield Rotary Club is partnering with the high school to introduce a new student achievement recognition effort, the Rotary Spirit Student Award Program.
While the Rotary Club’s existing scholarship award program recognizes achievements by graduating FFHS seniors, the new Rotary Spirit Student Award Program seeks to honor students in grades 9-12 throughout the school year. With the expanded recognition program, faculty and staff may nominate students throughout the year to receive more real-time recognition for their work.
“The program selection criteria includes academics, citizenship, and personal development,” said Carl Young of the Fort Fairfield Rotary Club. “Emphasis is placed upon working to one’s potential, making significant progress in the classroom, demonstrating respect toward the student body, staff and faculty, being a positive role model to one’s peers, and volunteer efforts both within the school and the community.”
The new program provides two student awards, one boy and one girl, on a bi-monthly basis, for the periods of September-October, November-December, January-February, and March-April. Additionally, at the end of the school year, a Rotary Spirit Student of the Year will be chosen from those that received bi-monthly awards.
During the year, award recipients will be honored at a Fort Fairfield Rotary Club breakfast where they will receive a framed certificate of achievement. Their accomplishment will also be recognized through media releases and postings on the school bulletin board and website.
“The Rotary Spirit Student of the Year award winner, in addition to a recognition breakfast and framed certificate, will also receive a $300 cash award,” said Young.
This year’s program is also serving as a pilot program for a similar one at the middle school level. It is envisioned that if the new program is well received by the student body and is successful at the high school that it will expand to the middle school level next year, and possibly a modified version at the elementary school level the following year.
