Fort St. John Rotarians said goodbye to Pauleanne Codilla last week and presented her with this year’s $5,000 Rotary Youth Scholarship.
The North Peace Secondary graduate has been a tremendous youth ambassador in Fort St. John and for Rotary over the last three years. This year, she spent more than 100 hours volunteering for the Salvation Army, Literacy Society, Peace Villa, and the city's two Rotary clubs.
“The numerous opportunities this club has given me over the last three years is something I’ll be forever grateful for,” Codilla said during a Rotary lunch meeting Aug. 20.
Codilla is off to her first year at the University of Alberta where she will study political science and history. She plans to use those as a stepping stone into law school.
Through high school, Codilla served as President and International Director of the Fort St. John Rotary-Interact Club, which raised $2,500 to build a well for safe drinking water in a rural village in Honduras.
She also co-founded the school’s first Student Council and was elected President, and was also this year’s Graduating Class Historian, and winner of the City of Fort St. John's Youth Award.
“I am the person I am today because of each and everyone of you," Codilla told the club. "Without Rotary I would not be as confident, mature, open minded, educated and passionate as I am today. I’m very excited to call myself a Rotarian, and wear that pin loudly and proudly.”
Club President Cameron Eggie acknowledged Codilla's hard work and service to Fort St. John, as well as her Interact Club peers.
"It's pretty inspiring for me to see students in high school so committed to a community," Eggie said.
ARTICLE SOURCE: Alaska Highway News