The following is a release from the Rotary Club of Hinsdale:

Five students who attend Clarendon Hills Middle School, Hinsdale Middle School, and received the Rotary Club of Hinsdale’s Youth Merit Award Friday, February 3, 2012.

This award recognizes high school and middle school students for scholarship, leadership and service. The Rotary Club of Hinsdale honors students from area public and private schools at award ceremonies several times each school year. Rotarian Cheri Vana, Vice-President of Commercial Real Estate with Charter One Bank in Hinsdale, coordinates the program. Staff members at Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale Middle School, Clarendon Hills Middle School, Hinsdale Adventist Academy and St. Isaac Jogues School nominate students. The award winners attend a Rotary meeting, address the club members about their activities and interests, and receive a certificate to commemorate the occasion. Middle school students attend with their parents and invite an individual they consider their influential teacher. Teachers invited in February were: Lisa Albano, Kelly Ditmars, Danielle Scacco, Mary Sprengnether and Steve Tabisz.

The February 3 program was the fifth Youth Merit Award presentation of the 2011-12 school year. The following students earned the award:

Saadia Elahi, grade 8, Hinsdale Middle School, Burr Ridge resident.

Jahanavi Gaur, grade 8, Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale resident.

Abigail “Abby” Hess, grade 8, Clarendon Hills Middle School, Clarendon Hills resident.

Connor Magnesen, grade 8, Hinsdale Middle School, Hinsdale resident.

Erik Osmundson, Grade 8, Clarendon Hills Middle School, Clarendon Hills resident.

“Rotary Club of Hinsdale has presented its Youth Merit Awards for more than 20 years. The awards identify and honor students who set the example for their contemporaries in academics, athletics, the arts and community service,” said President James Slesser. “We are pleased to announce that Hinsdale Bank and Trust has joined us as the community sponsor of this program. Both Rotary members and the bank staff are continually impressed and amazed with the achievements of these young members of our community.”

The Rotary Club of Hinsdale meets weekly at 12:15 p.m. at the Community House in Hinsdale. The club, founded in 1959, consists of men and women of diverse backgrounds whose personal commitment to service ranges from support of local youth programs to assistance for the poor and sick across the globe. For more information, visit www.hinsdalerotary.org.