Submitted photo High school seniors (left to right) Phillip Maas of Chautauqua Lake Central School; Naomi Fisher of Chautauqua Lake Central School; and Hayden Backus of Westfield Academy and Central School were honored as “Scholars of the Month” by the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club during its Oct. 15 meeting at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church in Westfield.

During its Oct. 15 meeting at the Lakeshore Assembly of God Church in Westfield, the Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville proudly honored three high school seniors as being “Scholars of the Month.” The outstanding honorees and their respective schools were Phillip Maas of Chautauqua Lake Central School (for October), Naomi Fisher of Chautauqua Lake Central School (for September), and Hayden Backus of Westfield Academy and Central School (for October).

Rotary Club President John Hamels welcomed the scholars, their parents and relatives, school administrators, and Rotarians to the meeting. Following dinner and some club business, Dan Smith, Club Youth Services Chair led the program and explained the various youth service activities which the Westfield-Mayville Rotary Club supports. Then he and Rotarians Sheila Chapman and Barbara Fay each introduced the scholars.

Phillip Maas, the son of Pauline and Michael Maas of Ripley, is a Chautauqua Lake CSD senior. In June of 2020, he will graduate in the top 15% of his class with an Advanced Regents Diploma. He is a member of the National Honor Society, and he serves as treasurer for the CLCS NHS Chapter.

Maas is in many activities at his school. He is treasurer of his class, and is a member of the high school academic bowl team, the language club, and the Science Olympiad. Also, he has been a member of the Climate Summit at Buffalo State College since September of 2016.

This scholar has been awarded the RIT Computing Medal, and he has been named as CLCS Student of the Month, as well as Chautauqua Lake Kindness Student of the Month. Maas volunteers his time for the CLCS Elementary Robotics Club, is a peer tutor, a peer mentor, and a volunteer for Ripley’s 5K race.

During the summers, Maas has been employed as a teacher assistant for the CLCS Thunderbird University summer program, and also for Ripley Central’s Eagle University summer program. Since May of 2018, he has been employed at Meeder’s Restaurant in Ripley. After graduation, Maas plans to attend either SUNY Fredonia or Rochester Institute of Technology for math or history education so that he may become a teacher.

Naomi Fisher, the daughter of Martin and Sara Fisher of Ripley, is a Chautauqua Lake CSD senior. She is on track to graduate in June of 2020 at the top of her class with an Advanced Regents Diploma. Academically, this scholar has been named CLCS Student of the Month each year. During her junior year, Fisher was named JCC Student of the Year.

As a leader in her school, Fisher is the president of her class, CLCS National Honor Society Vice President, and secretary of the student administration. Also, she is the peer education club president, the yearbook treasurer, and a member of the high school academic bowl, the language club, Sources of Strength group, and Envirothon, in which her team placed third overall. Though it is hard to believe, Fisher finds the time to play varsity tennis, and she was named rookie of the year when she was a junior.

In addition, Fisher has also taken a leadership role in the First Amendment First Vote program, which is organized by the Erie County Commission on the status of women. She has helped to create a program named Kids Campaign in order to increase civic awareness and engagement with CLCS middle school students. She has also volunteered to serve as a CLCS Transition Day leader to support sixth grade students as they transition to the CLCS secondary school, which begins in seventh grade.

Outside of school, Fisher is an active member of numerous community service activities, such as Vacation Bible School, Ripley’s Race to Wellness, Footsteps, and the Jingle Bell Run. After she graduates from CLCS, Fisher plans to attend a four-year university, such as Georgetown or Cornell, where she plans to study to become a doctor. In the future, she would like to participate in the Doctors Without Borders organization.

Hayden Backus, the son of Jason and Brenda Backus of Westfield, is a Westfield Academy and Central School senior. He will graduate in June of 2020 with a Regents Diploma with Advanced Designation. During his final year of high school, this scholar enrolled in four Jamestown Community College courses. At the end of his senior year, Backus will have earned 24 college credits.

In addition to his college courses, Backus is enrolled in various high school courses. Also, he is completing an internship in earth science. He was named WACS Senior of the Month for September 2019. He attended Boys’ State during the summer between his junior and senior year.

Backus is four-year member of senior high chorus. He is a member of Westwinds, a select choral group, and he was a member of Ape-men, an all-male choral ensemble. He was in the cast of the school productions of “Into the Woods,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Adventures of Nickelboy,” “Newsies,” and “A Christmas Carol.”

Also, he is a member of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship. Backus has held employment at Pinehurst Golf Club and Andriaccio’s Family Restaurant, plus he has his own lawn care business. In the fall of 2020, Backus will enroll at a four-year college to pursue a degree in earth science or physical education.

The Rotary Club of Westfield-Mayville proudly congratulates Phillip Maas, Naomi Fisher and Hayden Backus on their many successes and outstanding academic and extracurricular achievements. Best wishes to these leaders of tomorrow as they finish their senior year and continue in their college studies to prepare for their future careers.