The Rotary Club of Carmel is currently offering student service awards to juniors in Carmel High School. According to Ranjit “Ranj” Puthran, student service award chairperson of the Rotary Club, students can applyfor the William D. McFadden Student Service Award for a chance to win.

The Rotary Club is a worldwide community service club that offers both local and international service. Puthran said that the club has six main focus areas which members try to provide peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, providing water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic and community development. There are around 1,200,000 members in the Rotary Club worldwide along with roughly 32,000 clubs.

“Rotary was founded in 1905 by business owners who met in order to do business with each other and slowly evolved to them collectively using their resources to better the communities in which they lived.” Puthran said.

This is also the first year that the Rotary Club of Carmel is offering the award to juniors. It was previously offered to members of the Interact Club of Carmel High School. Currently, there are 175 members in the Rotary Club of Carmel. Puthran said that the award winners will be in the Carmel Independence Day parade.

“We felt that juniors are in the process of applying for colleges and if they won it is something they can put in their resumes and college applications.” Puthran said. “We felt that most seniors have already applied to colleges.  So, the purpose is to add to your college brag sheet.” By Arsalan Siddiqui