On January 26, 2023, the Rotary Club of Lynn continued with its tradition of recognizing 8th grade students from Lynn Schools. These are students who have struggled with some adversity during the school year or have shown empathy toward others in an outstanding way.
The students are nominated by their teacher or guidance counselor, someone who knows the student very well. The students are invited to a luncheon meeting of the members and are individually presented with a gift certificate to a local bookstore, a Certificate of Achievement, and a $25 gift certificate to open an account at the River Works Credit Union, the program sponsor. During the individual presentations a narrative is read enumerating the various situations the students struggled with and how they were overcome.
Approximately 20 years ago the Eighth Grade Recognition Program was the brainchild of 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, were it not 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 so he petitioned his fellow Rotarians to adopt the program. Since its inception well over 500 students have been recognized by the Lynn Rotary Club.
Pictured her are left to right: Bottom Row: Ishbel Garcia Granados, Thurgood Marshall Middle School; Gabriella Pezzino, St. Pius V School; Jasmilly Pons, Breed Middle School; K’Lani Contreras, Pickering Middle School. Top Row: Mary Beth Noe, Principal St. Pius V; North Shore Christian School, Ian Bogertman; St. Mary’s Middle School, Emma Gustin; Lynn Vocational Technical Institute, Nicole Maria; Lynn Schools Superintendent, Debra Ruggiero.