Club President Andrea Stewart (left) with February Youth Citizen of the Month Evalyn Fordyce of Gaston Jr./Sr. High School and her mother, Karissa Fordyce Worst. Photo by John Schrag.

By John Schrag
Members of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove are accustomed to hearing from principals, teachers and counselors who offer some words of praise for the Youth Citizens of the Month. These school officials then typically invite adult relatives of the youth to join them and the honoree for a photo.

At last week’s meeting, Gaston counselor Karissa Fordyce Worst had no need to make such an invitation. The honored student was her daughter, Evalyn Fordyce, an eighth grader at Gaston Junior/Senior High School, who was recognized as the club’s February Youth Citizen of the Month.

The proud mom said “Evy” is active in sports and excels in the classroom, but that she’s been most gratified at seeing her daughter’s concern for others in the small, rural school district, which has an enrollment of just under 500 students.

“She looks out for the little guy,” she said. “The student who needs a friend, who needs to be welcomed into a new school. It’s an honor to watch her grow as a leader, in so Kathy Cooper, another school counselor, agrees.

In remarks sent to the club, Cooper describes Fordyce as “a shining example of what it means to be a responsible and caring member of our school community. She consistently treats others with kindness, and Cooper says Fordyce takes pride in doing the right thing, whether that means assisting a classmate, contributing to class discussions, or jumping when something needs to be done. “Her positive attitude and strong sense of integrity make her a deserving recipient of the Student Citizenship Award.”

In recognition of her achievements, Fordyce received a certificate and a $50 gift card to Frye’s Action Athletics.

A second Gaston honoree was unable to attend the meeting and will be recognized at a later date.

A long-standing program of the Rotary Club of Forest Grove, the Youth Citizen of the Month program recognizes local eighth-graders and high school seniors who possess high standards of personal behavior and good citizenship, exemplify the ideals of Rotary, follow school rules and have excellent behavioral records.

The Rotary Youth Citizen of the Month is rotated between the area’s three local school districts: Forest Grove, Banks & Gaston.