Photo Provided By Deer Park Rotary Club
The high school students pictured from left to right are Gavin Lawrence – Mary Walker High School, Cooper Eagle – Riverside High School, Robyn Porter – Deer Park High School.
The Deer Park Rotary Club members picked three students for March’s Student of the Month.
Deer Park School District
Robyn Porter, student of the month from Deer Park, was introduced by Principal Joe Feist. Mr. Feist said Robyn is a great student with a 3.91 GPA, a fantastic citizen, really quiet, who gets things done, and doesn’t need a lot of fanfare. Robyn introduced her parents, David and Denise Porter. Beginning high school, Robyn was scared, but by the end of her freshman year, she had discovered agriculture and science. Mrs. Whitmore, FFA advisor, took her under her wing and showed her it was not scary here. Robyn grew up in and around the agricultural industry, and no one was surprised when the agriculture club, FFA, became her passion. She is a plant and animal nerd and has been told by her parents that she works better with plants and animals than humans (she says that’s true). Through FFA, her parents and Mrs. Whitmore’s help, and all the opportunities that Deer Park High School offers, she grew as a person over these four years. For fun, you will find Robyn in one of four places: skiing with family, outside with animals, working with her houseplants that cover an entire wall, or on FFA trips. When asked what she’s going to do after high school, her reply is, “I don’t know! But I do know what I’m interested in: forestry, wildlife biology, and veterinary work. Whatever I do, it will be in the AG field”. Robyn has attended National FFA competitions twice in Indianapolis and has competed in three projects, two AG and the other, her chickens. For the past three years, Robyn has competed in the Career Development Event and this year, she is a state contender. Robyn thanked the group for selecting her and appreciated the time given to her.
Riverside School District
Cooper Eagle, Riverside Student of the Month, was introduced by Principal Clint Hull. Cooper introduced his parents, Ted and Katy Eagle, and thanked us for this opportunity. He said he didn’t know much about Rotary but was inspired by what he heard and what we do. Cooper is a three-sport athlete: football, basketball, and soccer. He is president of the National Honor Society, where he organizes fundraisers and community service projects. He is in student government, is taking three AV classes and ended last semester with a 4.0 GPA. For fun, he likes outside activities, skiing, backpacking, trying new hobbies, and anything fun with a good group of people. Cooper is a 12-year senior at the high school and has always enjoyed the staff and the teachers that he’s had and the relationships and bonds he’s made with them. He really enjoys the sense of community at Riverside, especially pronounced the last few years with Dr. Russell. He plans to study aerospace after high school and is looking at joining the Air Force Reserve for schooling and basic training and eventually going to college.
Mary Walker School District
Gavin Lawrence, student of the Month from Mary Walker, was introduced by Principal Mike Amend. Gavin was the unanimous choice for student of the month but is uncomfortable speaking, so Principal Amend would tell his story. Gavin is unlike the usual student who we see standing up in front of us. He is a three-sport athlete who has not been able to participate in track, football, or basketball this year due to an ankle injury and is looking at upcoming surgery. Freshman and sophomore years were very hard for Gavin. His mother became very ill between the first and second year of his high school and passed away that summer. Returning from Covid for his junior year, he was at a 6th-grade level due mostly to math. His GPA was 2.55. But the good news now is that he’s on track to graduate; he has a plan for what he wants to do next (he wants to be a lineman), and his GPA at the end of the first semester last year was 3.6. The second semester was 3.5, and this year’s first semester is 3.6. He has made an amazing turnaround. When asked what he wants people to know about him, he said he is hard-working and finishes what he starts. Upon further questions, Gavin said he hopes for an apprenticeship with Avista for lineman training. He was also asked how he turned his coursework around. When he found out he was credit deficient, he was stressed out and helped by a teacher who gave him a plan, and he followed it. He wants to graduate!
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.
