The high school students pictured from left to right are Braylon Dean, Deer Park; Tamia (Tia) Cates, Mary Walker; Charles Carroll, Riverside. Photo Provided By Deer Park Rotary Club
The Deer Park Rotary Club members picked three students for September’s Student of the Month.
Deer Park School District
Deer Park Principal Joe Feist introduced senior Braylon Dean as a great citizen from a great family, ASB president, and a tremendous baseball player, a “great catcher and can really swing it.” Braylon is grateful to be here today with his father, Ed, a federal law officer, and his mother, Andrea, a nurse at Arcadia. Braylon, as ASB President, enjoys leading the students, and their goal this year is to have more community and have all 700 students participating, not just the popular kids. He loves to play baseball and basketball, loves to watch football, and is a shoe fanatic. Homecoming will happen soon at the school, and he is looking forward to all of the fun competitions between the different classes. He is especially proud of the “Special Education Prom,” an event started at Deer Park High School. Students from all area schools are invited. They get dressed up in prom dresses, suits, and ties for an evening of pizza, dancing, and fun. For most students, they’ve never had an opportunity to go to a high school dance. His most challenging class this year is EWU College History Class. When asked, he said he hits left handed and throws right handed. After high school, Braylon would like to play baseball in any division, complete his undergraduate classes, and then go to a pharmacy school. He was drawn toward pharmacy watching his aunt, a pharmacist, during the covid pandemic. He would like to help people like she did. He ended by thanking the club for recognizing him today.
Riverside School District
Charles Carroll, introduced by Principal Clint Hull as Riverside’s Student of the Month, is a known leader in the school. He is the ASB President who just led the freshman orientation class called RAM Camp prior to this lunch. Charles attended a camp of State Leaders this summer to get ideas and activities to be inclusive and get everyone all fired up. He models that every day, it doesn’t matter what student groups you are a part of. He leads everyone equally. Parker, Charles’s brother, was a student of the month from Riverside last year. Charles thanked the club for inviting him here today and also thanked his mother, Wendy, for her support. He is a member of the Cross Country and Track teams and is looking forward to state participation this year. Charles is also in the Boy Scouts working on his Eagle Scout and a volunteer firefighter with South Pend Oreille County Fire District. He was disappointed that he could not be more involved in this year’s Elk fire because he was too young, but did what he could in the background. He would like a future in firefighting and likes to help the community. He is looking forward to this year’s football and pep rallies and would like to start a fire science program at Riverside this year. When asked, Charles said he will be rebuilding some barbecues in Elk Park as his Eagle Project. He is looking at attending a community college or university and would like to work in fire sites and investigation.
Mary Walker School District
Tamia Cates, who goes by Tia, is Mary Walker’s student of the month and was introduced by Principal Mike Amend. Tia thanked the club for this opportunity and thanked her mother, Cindy, for her support today and through the years. Tia comes from a long family line at Mary Walker High School. An older brother graduated in 2007, her mother in 1997, her grandma and grandpa in 1971, and a great aunt in l968. Tia is the ASB President, has a 4.0 GPA, is valedictorian of her class, and started taking college course classes as soon as she could. She has been taking college management and business classes for extra credit, and her favorite class is her EWU English Literature. Along with her academic achievements, she is a Varsity Volleyball and Varsity Track and Field player and has two gold medals for placing first in the triple and the long jump. Tia loves to travel and to learn how people interact with each other. She went to Japan last summer and loved learning about the country, people, and culture. She has not chosen which schools she will apply to but wants to work in an international business. In addition to Japan, she has also traveled to Canada and Italy. She thanked the club again for recognizing her as a student of the month.
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.
