quiet pg 3 7-18-24
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Top: Interact co-presidents, Sofia Thurber, left, and June Ferraro. Above, from left: Rotary President Doug Porter Anthony Beaudreault, Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, both from Woodstock Academy (and both are going to the World Affairs Seminar), and Madison Thomas from Putnam High and Rotarian Jay Wade. Not pictured. Ava Tucker, Tourtellotte (going to World Affairs Seminar) and Caitlyn L’Heureux from Tourtellotte. Courtesy photo.
Quiet Cornerleaders --- already
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — To say that today’s youth in the Quiet Corner are bursting with energy and promise would be an understatement.
The Putnam Rotary Club takes part in the Rotary district’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) program. Sophomores attend a special program at Springfield College and develop leadership qualities and good citizenship.
They learn in teams and each team selects one student to take part in the World Affairs Seminar in 2025 in Wisconsin.
The Putnam Rotary Club sent five students in June and three of those students were elected to attend the World Affairs Seminar. Rotarian Jay Wade, who leads the program for the club, said having three students from one club go to the Worlds has never happened before.
“It just shows the caliber of the students here,” he said. Attending the Worlds are: Anthony Beaudreault and Isabel D’Alleva-Bochain, both from Woodstock Academy, and Ava Tucker from Tourtellotte Memorial High School.
Madison Thomas from Putnam High School and Caitlyn L’Heureux from Tourtellotte rounded out the five attendees of RYLA’s Springfield program. Beaudreault, D’Alleva-Bochain and Thomas described their experiences in Springfield at a recent Rotary meeting.
On the Putnam Rotary Club’s Interact Club side, the new co-presidents spoke to the Rotary Club and described the year they have planned. Sofia Thurber and June Ferraro summarized the very busy year they have planned: “We aim to raise awareness for children with disabilities, special needs, and childhood cancer. We’ll collaborate with St. Jude’s and Boston Children’s Hospital to organize events, providing outdoor activities for those able to leave the hospital and kits for those who cannot. During holidays, we’ll create cards for the kids. Additionally, we’ll volunteer at The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp and raise funds for Make-A-Wish through walking events and school fund-raisers. We’ll wear specific colors to raise awareness and participate in the Special Olympics in March, as well as support Camp Quinebaug by joining the turkey dip. We will also be continuing our journey with TEEG.”