ROTARY CLUB OF McLEAN TO PRESENT YOUTH SERVICE AWARDS TO THREE LOCAL H.S. STUDENTS Ceremony to Take Place March 12 at noon at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer McLEAN, VA (February 28, 2013)?The Rotary Club of McLean will present its 2013 Youth Service Awards to three Northern Virginia high school students during a special ceremony to be held on March 12 in McLean. The local students will receive the awards in addition to $250 scholarships for their commitment to serving the community and exemplifying Rotary International?s guiding principle of ?Service Above Self?. The awards will take place Tuesday, March 12 during the McLean Club?s noon meeting at the Lutheran Church of the Redeemer (1545 Chain Bridge Road) in McLean. The 2013 Youth Service Award Winners are: Jung Wook (James) Choi, Senior, McLean High School James Choi has volunteered every weekend for the past four years at the Milal Mission Association. Through this program, James has helped children with mental disorders. James has not only been a buddy for these children but also a person who helps them improve their self-confidence. He volunteers at the Milal Mission because he values the lives of these children. James founded an organization named ?Silent Outcry of Students? (SOS). The organization has researched information about veterans of the Korean War. Students in the organization then found and interviewed the veterans to preserve their stories and inform the public, particularly younger generations, about the important contributions of these veterans. The organization has published a book on the subject. During the summer in his sophomore and junior years, James volunteered as a translator in the International Clinic at the Samsung Hospital in Korea. He helped foreign patients communicate with Korean doctors. Rebecca Pifer, Senior, Langley High School Rebecca Pifer has volunteered at Jill?s House for the past four years, interacting with mentally disabled children so that they can relax and play in a safe and fun environment. Although volunteering at Jill?s House has been emotionally and physically draining, Rebecca has enjoyed this important work. Rebecca is also a board member of a service organization named Youth Inspire. The purpose of Youth Inspire is to bring emotional support to children with cancer. Many of these kids are scared and drifting without the comfort of a friend. Rebecca and her colleagues visit them at Fairfax Inova Hospital, make them cards and bring them presents. Rebecca has also raised funds for Youth Inspire. Rebecca is also Registration Chair and Co-Chair of Entertainment for Relay for Life, an overnight fundraising walk for the American Cancer Society. Rebecca and her group are working to bring a Relay to the McLean community. Britt Nelson, Senior, The Potomac School Britt is co-leader of Potomac School?s Community Service Club. Serving others has been a priority for her since she arrived at the Potomac School. Britt has organized events, collected donations, arranged fundraisers, found projects in the area in which students can get involved, and works with organizations to open events to the Potomac student body. During her summers, Britt has tutored underprivileged elementary school-age children in English and Math. She creates lesson and projects, and organizes field trips. This past summer, Britt led the effort to continue this program when it was in jeopardy of being cut. Britt also participates in the Poder program, a big brother-big sister program with children of the Culmore Safe Youth Program. She has also been involved in Potomac?s ?Senior Prom? for senior citizens suffering from Alzheimer?s and dementia. When one thinks of community service at Potomac, Britt?s is the first name that comes to mind. Rotary Club of McLean Founded in November 1965 the Rotary Club of McLean comprises 60 business and community leaders dedicated to providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in all vocations and helping to build goodwill and peace in the world. The McLean Club is one of more than 33,000 Rotary clubs?with more than 1.2 million members?located in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. Web site: www.mcleanrotary.org.
