Support for Local Education
Gualala Rotary supports all third-graders, academic achievers in grades 6-12, and two high school seniors bound for college or vocational education.
Student Achievement Awards Program.
Each year Gualala Rotary honors more than 30 outstanding student-scholars from our local schools in grades 6-12 for their academic achievement. Selected by their teachers, the students gather at the Community Center with their parents, school administrators, and Rotarians for a special luncheon in their honor. Each student receives a $50 check in recognition of his or her achievement. (For 2019-2020, due to the coronavirus, awards have been given out by mail).
2019-2020 Achievers
Point Arena Joint Union High School
12th Grade: Dylan Freebairn-Smith, Loden Haught, Jason Belleza
11th Grade: Sadie Hanson, August Riehl, Chanille Malik
10th Grade: Caitlin Huse, Josue Sanchez, Yazmin Carbajal
9th Grade: Sean Freebairn-Smith, Nayeli Orozco, Ava Sexton
PCC High School
12th Grade: Logan Duggan
9th Grade: Brenda Walsh
South Coast Continuation School
12th Grade: Christi L. Cobarrubia
Kashia
7th Grade: Ku’ulani Makaiwi
Arena Union Elementary
8th Grade: Kyle Caughey, Sidney Regelbrugge
7th Grade: Roselyn Aguilar Villagomez and Leonor Olalde Bernal
6th Grade: Alexa Ferreyra, Giana Blackburn
Horicon
8th Grade: Ethan Miller
7th Grade: Fathom Williamson
6th Grade: Jean Carlo Bolanos, Nayeli Zamora
Pacific Community Charter K-8
8th Grade: Oliana Marzoratti
7th Grade: Elijah Garcia
6th Grade: Jesenia Rodriguez
Manchester Elementary
8th Grade: Madison Mertens
7th Grade: Belen Vazquez
6th Grade: Joaquin Faiella
The Dictionary Project
Gualala Rotary helps build literacy in our elementary schools by providing dictionaries to all third graders. In conjunction with Rotary International, we give grade-appropriate dictionaries to third graders from six local schools– Manchester, Pt. Arena, Charter, Horicon, Kashia, and Ft. Ross. For some kids, this is their first “real” book they have received as a gift. Students can take their dictionary home, a key benefit for students who do not have internet access after school. Since 2001, Gualala Rotary has distributed about 750 dictionaries. Nationally and internationally, Rotary has distributed more than 30 million of the school dictionaries since 1995.