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

Five students who attend St. Isaac Jogues School, Hinsdale Adventist Academy and Hinsdale Central High School received the Rotary Club of Hinsdale’s Youth Merit Award Friday, March 2.

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.

The March 2 program was the sixth Youth Merit Award presentation of the 2011-12 school year. The following students earned the award:

• Gillian Lavins, grade 8, St. Isaac Jogues, Hinsdale resident.
• Katerina Danijela Maletin, grade 8, Hinsdale Adventist Academy, Westmont resident.
• Emmett Mohl, grade 8, St. Isaac’s Jogues, Hinsdale resident.
• Talia Elena Posada, grade 8, Hinsdale Adventist Academy, Clarendon Hills resident.
• John Thomas Stathopoulos, senior, Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale 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. 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.