The Riverbank Rotary Club recently recognized Taranpreet Naula from Cardozo Middle School and Lydia Hodges from Riverbank High School as Students of the Year for 2016-17. Naula, Hodges, and their families were invited to the Rotary breakfast meeting where they were acknowledged for their exceptional traits and presented with a certificate and a gift card to Galaxy Theatres. The students were recommended for this honor by a teacher.

“The mothers of each student were presented a rose, as it is our belief that parents should also be commended,” stated Linda Gianelli, Past Rotary President/Current Youth Services Chairperson.

“I’m very excited about Lydia being recognized for her achievements,” said mom Jennifer Hodges. “She struggled with a debilitating illness her entire sophomore year and for her to have recovered as much as she has and to have done so well in school is a God-given miracle. So we are very thankful that the Rotary Club chose to recognize Lydia this way.”

For the past five years the Rotary has been recognizing outstanding students.

“I am grateful when kids get recognized for academic success because so much more attention seems to be paid to athletes,” added Hodges. “Lydia is an accomplished athlete as well, but I believe it is her academic ability that will carry her farther in life.”

The Riverbank Rotary joined with other Rotary clubs in the District and presented a donation check to the Veterans Foundation of Stanislaus County in early April. The Veterans Foundation will have a conference room named after the Rotary clubs that donated to their new facility on Sylvan and Coffee roads in Modesto.

Serving the Riverbank community, the Rotary will be having a fundraiser at the Riverbank Swim Meets in June selling Walk About Tacos to raise money for swim team scholarships. In the fall they will host a Star Gazing Dinner that will include a state of the art telescope.

“We have had a busy year with our youth,” noted Gianelli.