Given distinction as “Scholars of the Month” at the December meeting of the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club, which was held at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church in Westfield, were (left to right) seniors Olivia Kitchen, Westfield Academy and Central School; Emily Phelps, Chautauqua Lake and Central School; Haley Silka, Sherman Central School; and Jayla Doner, Brocton Central School.

On Dec. 12 during a meeting of the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church in Westfield, four high school seniors were given recognition as “Scholars of the Month.” They were Olivia Kitchen, Westfield Academy and Central School; Emily Phelps, Chautauqua Lake Central School; Haley Silka, Sherman Central School; and Jayla Doner, Brocton Central School.

John “Doc” Hamels, Club President Elect, welcomed all of the honorees, their relatives, school administrators and Rotarians in attendance, and he presided at the meeting. After dinner and some club business, Rotarians Barbara Fay, Luci Petrella and Dan Smith, Club Youth Services Chair, introduced the four scholars and gave highlights of some of their accomplishments. Then, Hamels congratulated each of the honorees and gave them a framed certificate and a pen.

Olivia Kitchen, a Westfield Academy and Central School senior, is the daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Timothy and Jennifer Kitchen of Westfield. During her four years of high school, this scholar has enrolled in various Jamestown Community College courses, which will net her 19 college credits at the end of her senior year. In addition, she has enrolled in Advanced Placement courses, plus required ones. She will graduate in June 2019 with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation.

In her junior year, Kitchen was inducted into the National Honor Society, and as an NHS member, she embodies its core values of character, leadership, scholarship and service. She is a member of the varsity soccer team and the tennis team, and she is completing an internship in an elementary classroom.

Kitchen has volunteered at the First Baptist Church of Westfield, the Patterson Library and the Westfield Recreation Department. She has held employment at Lenhart’s Garage, and she was a junior employee at Center Stage Dance Studio, where she took various dance classes for nine years. In the fall of 2019, Kitchen will attend Malone University in Canton, Ohio, in order to pursue a degree in Zoology and Wildlife Biology.

Emily Phelps, a Chautauqua Lake Central School senior, is the daughter of William and Katie Phelps of Ashville. She is on track to graduate in June 2019 with an Advanced Regents Diploma and in the top 10 of her class in academic ranking. Phelps, who is a National Honor Society member, has maintained a grade point average above 85 percent throughout her high school career. She has received recognition for her academic excellence in math, English, language arts, science and social studies.

Athletically talented, Phelps has participated on her school’s basketball, soccer and track teams. She earned awards for Defensive Player of the Year in basketball, Offensive Player of the Year for soccer, and she was named captain of the soccer team.

Outside of school, Phelps has volunteered her time for Shooting Stars, the Ice Castle Festival, and for a Cystic Fibrosis fundraiser. Also, she plays on a travel soccer league. After graduation, Phelps will attend Gannon University, where she will be enrolled in its Physician Assistant Program of accelerated study. Phelps plans to pursue a career in a medical profession.

Haley Silka, a Sherman Central School senior, is the daughter of Christopher and Christina Silka of Sherman. Also, she is the proud aunt of six nieces and nephews, and serves as a role model for younger students. Silka, who will graduate in June 2019, has been on the honor roll every quarter. She has worked hard academically to maintain a grade point average above 90 percent, and she holds the academic ranking of number seven in her class.

Since her freshman year, Silka has been involved with the Clymer/Sherman/Panama (CSP) varsity track team. She works hard in both school and in the real world. Silka has been employed by Peak ‘n Peek Resort as a dishwasher and in the housekeeping department. Following her high school graduation, Silka plans to enroll at Penn Foster College in an online program to earn her Veterinary Technician Associate Degree.

Jayla Doner, a Brocton Central School senior, is the daughter of Denae Doner and Lee Gersic of Brocton. With a cumulative grade point average of 91.5, Doner is academically ranked fourth in her class. She will graduate in June 2019 with a Regents Diploma and with having earned six Jamestown Community College credits.

Doner was inducted into the National Honor Society in her junior year, and she is currently this group’s secretary. She is the vice president of her class, and she served in the same role during her junior year. Also, she has been an active student council member throughout her high school career. In her junior year, Doner received the character of the month award for responsibility, and she was also invited to the superintendent luncheon, with other students in varying grade levels. In her sophomore year she earned an award for having the highest average in conversational Spanish.

Demonstrating strong evidence of volunteer service throughout her high school years, Doner has participated in many different community service projects. In her freshman year she collected cans for the Carolina’s canned food drive and helped to collect costume jewelry for the Sparkle Project, which donates such items to chemotherapy treatment patients. During her sophomore and junior years, she participated in Math Night, and she helped to teach constructions to individuals of all ages, as well as supervise some of the educational games. Also, during her junior year she assisted with the planning and set up for homecoming, and with planting flowers outside of the school.

Doner plans to attend Hilbert College for a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice and Crime Scene Investigation. After earning her college degree, she hopes to start a law enforcement career in forensics and crime scene investigation.

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville proudly recognizes Olivia Kitchen, Emily Phelps, Haley Silka and Jayla Doner for their excellent achievements to date and their volunteer service contributions, and it wishes them great success with their post-high school studies and in their future careers.