Students serve, lead, inspire: Interact Club reflects on a year of impact
Pictured after giving the Interact Club’s year-end report at a recent Rotary meeting are Lily Shelton, Meera Sheth, Emma Rice, Jessica Linton, Maggie Finstad, Fatima Ba, and Jed Wolffe, with adult sponsors Alison King from Oak Ridge High School and Rotary Club members Carroll Welch, Brent Rankin, Nicole Eckert, Jan Melcher, and Rotary Club of Oak Ridge President J.R. Hertwig. (photo:Photo Submitted )
Students began the year by stuffing backpacks with school supplies for Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties.
In October, the club volunteered at the annual Special Olympics bowling event, helping participants enjoy one-on-one time with peers.
When Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the Appalachian region, students responded by creating fleece blankets to aid recovery efforts.
At the Oak Ridge Children’s Museum fundraising gala, Interact members assisted with setup, decorations, coat check and dinner service.
During the holiday season, students rang bells for the Salvation Army at Hobby Lobby, shopped for Angel Tree recipients, and volunteered at Fantasy of Trees to benefit East Tennessee Children’s Hospital.
In the spring, the club continued Rotary’s work with Bear Hugs (formerly Emma’s Bears), a project supporting polio prevention.
Students celebrated their service efforts at the regional Interact Conference in Pigeon Forge in March.
As the school year came to a close, Interact members volunteered at elementary school field days and completed a final project by serving more than 400 families through the Second Harvest Mobile Food Pantry.
ORHS 2024-25 Interact Club Awards
• Freshman of the Year: Kylie Smith
• Sophomore of the Year: Fatima Ba
• Junior of the Year: Emma Rice
• Senior of the Year: Meera Sheth
• Interact Volunteer of the Year: Jed Wolff
• Service Above Self: Lily Shelton
• Newcomer of the Year: Eli Pearson
• Silent Service Scholarships: Roelle Harvey, Lily Shelton, Meera Sheth
Although the school year has ended for the Interact Club, the Rotary Club of Oak Ridge continues to meet year-round at noon Thursdays at the DoubleTree Hotel.
