The RMHS Interact Club has won the first annual “Outstanding Interact Club” Award from all the schools/entries in District 6440. Rolling Meadows High School was honored with a trophy and $500 prize at the District 6440 Conference. This award is presented to one Interact Club that has demonstrated exceptional dedication and commitment to service projects in its community.  The incoming board members felt honored to earn this award and excited about how it can motivate the club moving forward. 

 “I am most proud of our ‘Outstanding Interact’ award [that] we won this year. We were able to beat out a lot of really competitive schools. It made all of us realize what we are really capable of, and it inspired us to begin planning bigger and better things for next year,” sophomore Alexa Sohn said. Sohn is the ‘23-’24 school year Vice-President for Interact. 

The RMHS Rotary Interact Club has been involved in numerous service projects throughout the year, which is what drew forth the recognition for this award.

“Our Annual Canned Food Drive to support the All Saints Presbyterian Food Pantry- dropped off food to over 1,200 houses, and [our] fundraiser for non-profit organization ‘Embrace Relief’ to provide disaster relief for victims of the Turkey-Syria Earthquake raised over $400 to provide relief, ” said sophomore Jenice Ryoo (‘23-’24 Interact President). 

The projects the Interact club tasks itself with not only contribute to local communities, but also international ones. The standout project that the RMHS Rotary Interact Club completed was a fundraiser for sustainable Cambodia.

This year, Interact hosted a weeklong fundraiser from Monday, April 24th to Friday, April 28th at Rolling Meadows High School to raise money for clean water and sanitation support for the non-profit organization “Sustainable Cambodia.” Interact students were selling votes to RMHS students and staff members during all lunches during the week. Participants paid $1 to vote for their favorite staff member to “WIN” the contest. The three staff members who received the most votes by the end of the week on Friday, April 28th won the opportunity to step out of their comfort zones and get silly on Friday after school. 

The staff members, Division Head of Student Success, Safety, and Wellness Alvin Lewis, Spanish teacher Kate McNally, and Science Teacher Todd Schaap, headed to the north cafeteria to compete in three tasks/competitions: scooters, musical chairs, and a relay race. At the end, the teachers took off their costumes to show everyone who they were (Masked Singer-style).The club was able to raise $600 to donate to Sustainable Cambodia. 

 The Outstanding Interact Club Award recognizes the RMHS Rotary Interact Club’s commitment to service. The club’s efforts have not only benefited those they serve, but they have also inspired others to get involved and make a difference in their own communities. The members are grateful for the opportunity to compete as well as use this award to help foster the growth of the club in order to better serve the community. 

“We are tremendously grateful for the ‘Outstanding Interact Club’ award and we will make sure to take this opportunity to continue our campaigns and use this award to propel our effort to expand community service for the better!” Ryoo said. 

The Rotary Interact Club at Rolling Meadows High School is a shining example of the positive impact that young people can have when they are committed to serving others. Their dedication and hard work serve as an inspiration to all those who believe in the power of service to make a difference. The Outstanding Interact Club Award is a significant achievement for the RMHS Club, and it reflects their hard work, dedication, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world.

Ryoo hopes this award and their accomplishments as a club will inspire others to join forces to make a positive difference. “We will continue our club next year with MORE ideas and fundraisers planned! We are always open to more members willing to join to unify the community. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to reach out to Mrs. Wnek (our sponsor) at [email protected] or myself at [email protected].”