Forest Grove High School’s Penny Webber (center) and Neil Armstrong’s Donovan Mireles (third from right) are the Rotary Club of Forest Grove’s December Youth Citizens of the Month.

FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Penny Webber, a senior at Forest Grove High School, and Donovan Mireles, an eighth grader at Neil Armstrong Middle School, have been named the December Rotary Club of Forest Grove Youth Citizens of the Month.

The pair was honored during the club’s weekly meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13. Webber and Mireles received a certificate commemorating the award and a $50 gift certificate to Frye’s Action Athletics.

Webber, the child of Stephan & Jennifer Webber, is co-president of the school’s National Honor Society chapter and is also involved with theater and athletics. Outside of school, Webber is involved with community volunteer events and Boy Scouts. She was recognized for her involvement with school activities that make the school a better place to be.

“Penny is an amazing individual that is dedicated to excellence her students, serving the school and the greater community of Forest Grove,” her nomination said. “She is an all-around great person and student that leads by example at school and in the community.”

Mireles, the child of Mariela & Rudy Mireles, was recognized for exhibiting the values of inclusivity, respect, discipline and empathy. At Neil Armstrong, Mireles is involved with the Leadership Program and the elementary school volunteering program. He also plays club soccer and has a 4.0 GPA.

“Donovan is an outstanding student who demonstrates stellar citizenship,” his nomination said. “He is inclusive and respectful to his peers and teachers.”

A long-standing program with the Rotary Club of Forest Grove, the Youth Citizen of the Month program was restarted in 2023 after a three-year COVID-19 hiatus. The 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.

ABOUT THE ROTARY CLUB OF FOREST GROVE: Established in 1924, the Rotary Club of Forest Grove is one of the oldest and largest Rotary clubs in the Portland metropolitan area.  Serving the communities of Forest Grove, Banks, Cornelius and Gaston, the Rotary Club of Forest Grove is a dynamic group of civic-minded business and community leaders, linked by Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self.” The Rotary Club of Forest Grove is dedicated to helping make our local communities a better place to live through the funding of local organizations, especially those focusing on youth, and through service in local projects. Membership in the Rotary Club of Forest Grove is open to anyone who wishes to make a difference in their community, and the world, through service. To learn more, visit FGRotary.org.