On May 7th the Optimist Club of Salem presented Youth Appreciation Awards to three talented South Salem High School students and acknowledged four McNary High School students who were not able to attend the luncheon (they will receive their awards at a later date)
Below are synopses of each student.
South Salem High School
All three students from South Salem High School were selected for their Achievement in Leadership characterized by their willingness to take on any task, commitment to serving their community, work ethic, and ability to include and support others.
Achievement in Leadership
Tuesday is a Junior at South Salem who has demonstrated outstanding leadership through her dedication, organization, and commitment to serving others. As the lead organizer for prom, she has shown exceptional attention to detail and an impressive ability to collaborate with a wide range of students, ensuring that every senior feels included and has a memorable experience. Her clear vision and strong work ethic have been instrumental in bringing events to life. In addition to her work with prom, Tuesday serves as Vice President of Key Club, where she helps coordinate meaningful volunteer opportunities for students, and she is an active member of the junior class ASB and the girls’ golf team. In all these programs and activities, she consistently leads with responsibility, inclusivity, and purpose.
Tuesday is looking forward to her Senior year at South and finishing her work in the International Baccalaureate Program. Her future plans include studying Chemistry in Glasgow, Scotland, and then teaching High School Chemistry for a time before earning a PHD with the ultimate goal of becoming a University Professor.
Achievement in Leadership
Lulu is a Senior at South Salem who has demonstrated exceptional leadership through her dedication, initiative, and positive impact on the school community. As a leader in the Unified Program at South Salem (a program serving students with special needs), she has taken charge in organizing the Polar Plunge team and fundraiser (an event in coordination with Special Olympics), as well as coordinating Unified Assemblies that bring students together to recognize and celebrate achievements made by students in the Unified Program. Her leadership is thoughtful, inclusive, and highly effective. In addition to her work with Unified, Lulu plays an active role in ASB, where she served as the lead student for homecoming planning and decorating, showcasing her strong organizational skills and creativity. She also balances her leadership commitments with participation in girls’ flag football and girls’ golf, further reflecting her well-rounded character and commitment to her school. Lulu’s contributions have been truly outstanding and have made a lasting impact on the South Salem community.
Following graduation, Lulu plans to attend Brigham Young University to earn a degree in Experience Design and Management with the goal of a career as an event planner and coordinator for Special Olympics.
Achievement in Leadership
Brenna is a Senior at South Salem who is a truly exceptional student leader. Her leadership is most evident behind the scenes through her consistent willingness to take on any task and ensure it is completed to the highest standard. She leads by example, demonstrating responsibility, humility, and a strong work ethic in everything she does. Brenna has played a key role in organizing and leading donation efforts to support a fellow student battling leukemia, making it her personal mission to ensure her classmate feels supported and not alone during treatment. She approaches challenges with grace and resilience, never allowing obstacles to stand in her way. In addition to her leadership contributions, Brenna has also been an active member of the girls’ soccer program (she has been playing since 4th grade), further reflecting her commitment to her school community.
Brenna shared that being in the AVID program has given her the tools she needed to make decisions about her future which include first studying at Chemeketa and then transferring to OIT in Klamath Falls to earn a Bachelor of Science degree for Dental Hygienics.
McNary High School
Due to a last-minute scheduling conflict, our award-winners from McNary High School were not able to attend our luncheon. We will be presenting their awards at a later date and will update this page with additional information as it is made available. The following are the McNary students being recognized by the Club:
Allyssa Christensen - Most Involved in Community Service
Jocelyn Schnurbush - Achievement in Science
Mason Bowlby - Achievement in Math
Megan Curran - Achievement in Fine and Performing Arts