Aurora Graham and Luna Dygert excel in a wide variety of activities

Rotary Club of Ashland

January Student of the Month

Ashland High School Athletic and Activities Director Patrick Grady introduced Aurora Graham at the Feb. 8 meeting of the Ashland Rotary Club. Aurora is a senior at Ashland High School and the club’s January Student of the Month. She loves spending time outside and trying new sports with her family. She enjoys doing art and learning about its history. Her favorite subjects in school are math and science.

From teacher Katie Barber: “Aurora is studious, hard-working and honest, and is just as likely to help a fellow human with their toils as she is to make them smile with her witty sense of humor.”

Teacher Erin Flynn: “Aurora is always smiling and makes a learning environment better with her calm demeanor. “

Aurora concluded her recognition with the following remarks:

“Thank you so much for having me here today. … I have lived in Ashland since the age of 5. During my time in school, I have always felt that my teachers truly cared about not only my learning, but also about me as a person …. I love experimenting with my creativity and have seriously studied art since the age of 8. I have also been particularly drawn to electives at school like woodworking, metal working and mechanics classes, where I was often one of very few girls.

“Although I feel rewarded by my classes, for me school is not just about academics. I am a member of National Honor Society, art club, and Secretary of Women’s Affinity Group. I’ve played volleyball and basketball for multiple years and plan to join the track team this spring. I am currently team captain of the Ashland High snowboard team. I am also a thespian and have acted in three plays at AHS where I have had the honor to work with many professionals from OSF. Currently I am helping to build the set for the spring musical because I want to learn about stagecraft.

“After high school I plan to attend a four-year university. Although I am unsure of my major, I know that I want to work in a field that combines design, art, math and science.”

Student of the Month for February

Patrick Grady then introduced Luna Dygert, Student of the Month for February, saying:

“Since starting high school, Luna has joined a number of clubs such as Key Club, Daraja Club, and National Honor Society. Some of her favorite classes that she has taken at the high school are AP Environmental Science, Spanish, and Mechanics. After she graduates, she’s hoping to continue her education as an architecture major at a university on the West Coast.”

Teacher Barbie Hobein commented: “Luna is an individual that has found the balance of being a ‘student / athlete’.  On the volleyball court, at AHS in-season and off season with Club volleyball, Luna approaches new expectations and challenges as an opportunity to grow.”

Luna then addressed the meeting with the following comments:

“I’ve been playing volleyball for all four years and for the last two I’ve been playing for the varsity team.  And that is hands-down my favorite activity.

“I like to ski and I’ve been doing horseback riding since the fifth grade and that’s definitely one of my favorite activities. I’ve also been playing violin since the fifth grade and that’s really a great way to be part of a small community. I’ve been playing with the same group of people since that time, and we’ve gotten to go away to festivals and see some really cool orchestras perform some great music.

“I’m treasurer of the National Honor Society (NHS) and I am in the Daraja Club and the Key Club.  We’re currently working on the Spring Formal for NHS. … Half of the money from the NHS is for seniors for scholarships and the other half is to give back to the community.”

The Rotary Club of Ashland meets at noon Thursdays in Wesley Hall at the First United Methodist Church, 175 N. Main St., Ashland. For more information, go to ashlandrotary.org.

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