'Industrious, determined, insightful, inquisitive' - Rotary praises remarkable students

Four Eastside Catholic High School students were recognized for their remarkable contributions both in and out of the classroom, during a special meeting of the Rotary Club of Sammamish last Thursday morning, Nov. 5.

Forgoing their usual meeting place at the Bellewood Retirement Apartments to check out the relatively new Eastside campus east of 228th Street, Rotarians got the chance to meet with school principal Greg Marsh, take a tour of the school’s facilities, and congratulate their “Students of the Month” Rory Vandewark, Jessica Walsh, Ryan Gillespie and Jack Wyss.

“Eastside Catholic is about making kids smart, but it is also about making them smart and with a sense of love and compassion,” Marsh said, praising the students for their involvement in extra-curricular activities, such as the “Destiny” program, a peer support program between juniors and seniors.

Though Wyss was absent, Vandewark, Walsh and Gillespie all introduced themselves to the group which was honoring them.

Vandewark, who is excelling in her AP Biology and Bio-Med studies, told them of her plans to study nursing or chemistry in college. She has already been offered a full tuition scholarship at the University of Pittsburgh, but is still weighing her options.

Walsh listened to praise from her English teacher Daniela Melgar, which described the senior as “industrious, determined, insightful, inquisitive and passionate.”

These are words used to describe many of the young students before them who have been honored by Rotary.

Math teacher Randy Brown described Gillespie as a young man of good character, who was always positive and helpful in class.

Brown said it required a great deal of hard work and perseverance to succeed in difficult studies like AP Calculus, as Gillespie had done.

Although the fourth awardee, Wyss, was not there to accept his award, Social Studies teacher Patrick Kuster spoke highly of him to the Rotarians.

“The whole class profits from having him,” Kuster said.

Late in Oct., the Rotary club also paid tribute to its Skyline High School Students of the Month. Derrik Petrin and Evan Shieh.

Petrin, who in addition to being a National Merit scholar has served as an intern at Seattle Biomedical Research Institute, and annually participates in the Cancer Society’s Relay For Life.

He was recognized for his outstanding effort in science, and hopes to attend Yale University to continue his studies in that field.

Shieh said that math is his primary interest, and is a member of the Washington Student Math Association. He also teaches Sunday School, has a 3.94 GPA, and has received many awards in math, chess, and piano.

The Reporter joins the Rotary Club of Sammamish in congratulating these students, and hardworking and passionate students everywhere.