Rotary Students Of The Month – April 2023

Photo Provided By Deer Park Rotary Club
The high school students pictured from left to right are Antoni Dean of Mary Walker High School, Brooklyn Dryden of Deer Park High School, and Gavin Jaeger of Riverside High School.

The Deer Park Rotary Club members picked three students for April’s Student of the Month.

Deer Park School District
Deer Park Student of the Month, Brooklyn Dryden, was introduced as a very good sport and has been an athlete for a long time. She was on Deer Park’s State Championship Soccer Team and was All-State; she is a great softball player and a fantastic student with a GPA of 3.97. Brooklyn’s brother, Hunter, was also a student of the month and received one of our scholarships. Brooklyn began by introducing her parents. She loves to stay involved in school and is part of ASB, Captain of the Softball Team, on the soccer team, and involved in Link Crew. Brooklyn also works with the Special Education Department and participates in Unified Bowling annually. She is the Salutatorian of her class. Along with education, Brooklyn loves to play sports and spend time with her friends and family. After high school, she plans on attending Carroll College, a private Catholic College in Helena, Montana, where she will major in health sciences, focusing on physical therapy and athletic training. While attending college, Brooklyn will also be a softball team member. She is extremely grateful to be a Deer Park Rotary Student of the Month.

Riverside School District
Gavin Jaeger was introduced as one of Riverside High Schools’ best athletes. He’s involved in several sports and was in the Jazz Band for several years; he is a talented musician.  Gavin is a quiet and reserved leader who is impactful when he speaks.  People look up to him in the weight room and classroom. Gavin thanked the club and his mother and grandparents for being here today.  He has lived in the Deer Park area all of his life.  At Riverside, he played football and basketball.  In football, he was often chosen as team captain during the game. Gavin has taken all of the available Honors and AP classes at the school, is in the National Honor Society, and has a 3.994 GPA.  Gavin is the Valedictorian of his class.  In his spare time, he likes lifting weights, listening to music, and spending time with friends and family.  He said his time at Riverside has been amazing.  The teachers are great, and the superintendent, principal, and assistant principal participate in everything at school, which is unusual in other schools.  Gavin’s plan for the future is to join the Army ROTC at Washington State University, major in Animal Sciences, and someday be a small animal veterinarian. 

Mary Walker School District
Antoni Dean, Student of the Month at Mary Walker, works hard, has a zest for life, and is interested in many different areas.  He has perseverance and has overcome many obstacles in his life in the last year and a half.  Antoni has been a student at Mary Walker since the 8th grade.  He and his family were originally from Germany, then moved to Oklahoma when he was seven or eight.  Antoni especially enjoys his anatomy and physiology class.  Through Washington State University(WSU), he’s been able to do dissections and work with the WSU students with cadavers and learn more about the human body.  His second favorite class is College of High School English.  It gives him more of a challenge and helps prepare him for college and the future. Antoni is on the track team and throws the discus and shot put. Along with his friends, Antoni is involved in a Japanese Cultural History Club.  They worked with the  school this year to set up a trip to Japan and have been fundraising all year to make it happen. Outside of school, he likes to spend time outdoors, hike, and he recently spent a week hiking in Glacier National Park with his brother.  He works at the Country Corner and the gas station stocking shelves.  He’s been volunteering at the Grange for the past four years and helps with the Haunted House.  Antoni has applied and been accepted at WSU and Eastern University, where he will pursue Japanese culture and language.  He would like to teach English or Japanese in Japan or work as a translator.

What is the Deer Park Rotary Club?
The Rotary Club of Deer Park is about serving others, building relationships, and developing the next generation of leaders. Its annual fundraising events provide scholarships and educational activities for local students. In addition, every month they select and honor outstanding high school students within our community. Their programs are for more than just club members. For more information or how to make a difference in your community through Rotary, visit: DeerParkRotary.com.

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Related Articles

Young Voices Shine Home Link Writing Contest

Home Link recently held their annual short story writing competition. More than twenty 3rd-12th grade kids participated this year. In a competition that encourages six-trait story telling, but welcomes writers of all experience levels to tell a tale.

Read More »

Library Campaigns Feed Minds and Fight Hunger

This April, the Spokane County Library District is turning the page on two pressing issues, literacy and hunger, by launching Library Giving Day and the Bites & Books food drive. These twin campaigns aim to nourish both minds and bodies, ensuring every child in the community has access to books and basic nutrition.

Read More »

Gerald Ray “Jerry” Knight, 1933-2025

Gerald Ray “Jerry” Knight, born November 23, 1933, in Spokane, Washington, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2025, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and love. Jerry was the beloved son of Albert James Knight and Nora Marie Mack Knight. He spent his formative years in Dover, Idaho, and Usk, Washington, alongside his little sister, Chrystal, to whom he was a life-long protector.

Read More »

April 16 Open House: City Of Deer Park Seeks Input

The City of Deer Park is inviting residents to an open house to provide input on long-term plans for growth, transportation, housing, small agricultural animals, and land use. The event is part of a periodic update to the city’s Comprehensive Plan as state law requires.

Read More »

Ronald R Baird

Ronald Ray Baird was born September 9, 1946 to Thomas and Laverne (Brown) Baird in Newton, KS. He passed away January 22, 2025 at his beloved home on the Pend Oreille River, near Usk, WA. Ron grew up in a rough and tumble home, the 4th of 5 brothers, Dick, Steve, Herb, Ron, and Mike. Ron attended and graduated from Remington High School in 1965. While there, he lettered in football (#60) and was selected as an all-league lineman.

Read More »

Gallery: Miss Deer Park 2025 Elegance & Achievement

The Miss Deer Park Scholarship Association chose their 71st representatives. The program was rich with poise and promise as six talented young ladies took to the stage. From fitness to composure, they held nothing back while competing to be the face of Deer Park. An image gallery awaits because what’s a royal moment without a little paparazzi?

Read More »

Share this!

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Share this!

Featured Sponsor
Thank You For Your Support!

Read more news.

Young Voices Shine Home Link Writing Contest

Home Link recently held their annual short story writing competition. More than twenty 3rd-12th grade kids participated this year. In a competition that encourages six-trait story telling, but welcomes writers of all experience levels to tell a tale.

Read More »

WinterFest Honored Citizens 2025: The Watsons

Doug and Karen Watson, known for their decades of dedication to the Deer Park community through volunteerism and leadership, have been named the 2025 WinterFest Honored Citizens. This recognition acknowledges their significant contributions to preserving and enriching local traditions.

Read More »

Subscribe to our emails

Use the form below to sign up to receive news via email at no cost to you.

Read & Support The

Local news to keep you informed and entertained. The Deer Park Gazette is locally owned and operated. When you support the Deer Park Gazette, you support local writers and photographers.