Waunakee Rotarians had a chance to hear from several high school students at the June 6 meeting, when the 2024 Service to Humanity Scholarship winners and Brisa Hernandez, the club’s exchange student from Mexico, spoke. 

Scholarship recipients included Madison Murray, Milana Lutes, Adrian Lutes and Porche Grade. Each spoke about their extensive community service, both at school and in the community, and expressed appreciation for the scholarship. 

Madison is planning to attend UW-Madison and has not yet decided on a major but has been accepted into the honors program. 

Porsche will also attend UW-Madison and is considering majoring in international relations. 

Milana will attend St. Norbert College and major in psychology and religious studies with a goal of attending seminary and becoming a pastor. 

Adrian, Milana’s sibling, was unable to attend due to conflict.

In her presentation about her year in Waunakee, Brisa treated the club to pictures of a number of her favorite moments, including UW sporting events, a Packer game, and high school sports. She got to know Bucky Badger pretty well during her time here and even has Bucky’s autograph. The friendly Badger seems a lot more fun than the jalepeño mascot from Mexico, she said. 

Brisa also participated in the Soñadores Club at Waunakee High School, but overall, said making friends took about six months. She also participated in the drama club and seems to have loved that. 

Brisa had a chance to travel quite a bit during the year, visiting Chicago, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Las Vegas, California and Puerto Rico. 

Brisa also had a chance to see Queen in concert, along with Ricky Montgomery, which she listened to alone in her room during the pandemic. 

The best friends she made were her fellow Rotary District 6250 exchange students. Each of them talked about how Rotary changed their lives, and for her, the friends she made with fellow exchange students meant the most. She said she hopes to remain friends with them for a long time. 

Brisa will return to Mexico next month. 

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Other News: 

-Summer fellowship opportunities will be at community band concerts. 

-The Rotary Convention next year is in Calgary, and Lori Derauf can help those who want to get with travel arrangements before they get booked. 

-Randy Guttenberg’s retirement party is Friday, June 7, from 1-3 p.m. Afterwards, he plans to leave the club, and so the club is in need of a new youth officer. 

Guests: Madison Murray, Jim and Cherie Murray, Mat Howarth, Eric Burns, Milana Lutes, Porsche Grade, Ezra Schmeelk, Araman Abczeid. 

Visiting Rotarians: None

Birthdays: June 18, Dan Statz.

Anniversaries: June 15, Andrew and Ana Hovde.

Greeters: June 13, Alex Welk and Mick Holm; June 20, David Weishoff and Eric Jochimsen; June 17, Jim Elvekrog and Al Dassow.

 To sign up to greet or to find out if you are greeting, visit: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/805054CAAAA2CA7F85-44320149-2023#/