E.L. Crossley graduating students Lauren Murray and Rachel Veldhuizen have won Rotary medals and scholarships from the Rotary Club of Fonthill, District 7090, a news release states.
Lauren Murray
Murray has been active in student leadership in her elementary school, her secondary school and within the District School Board of Niagara. She served as student trustee in her Grade 10 year and is currently the prime minister of the student council at Crossley.
While she is proud of many of her accomplishments, she is proudest of the work on Holiday Cheer – a joint Rotary and Crossley venture to support families in need in our community. At the board level, she is proudest of her work to place free menstrual products in school to help end period poverty. Additionally, at the board level, she has collaborated to ensure that the board has representation from diverse minority groups. Aside from her work in leadership at schools, she has been an active volunteer with her elementary school – assisting with their school play production among other things and volunteering with the Special Olympics bowling. she attempts to live up to the motto “service above self” and states that “Life isn’t about what you do for yourself, it is about what you do for others and what your intentions are.” Murray is attending Western University to study sciences.
Rachel Veldhuizen
Veldhuizen is not only the recipient of our local Rotary scholarship but has also earned the distinction of being the recipient of our District 7090 scholarship. The District encompasses upper New York as well as Southern Ontario, and is presenting six scholarships to graduating students this year. Veldhuizen has earned recognition with both scholarships through her commitment to service. For many years, she has worked to raise money for crohn’s and colitis.
Since 2016, she has led her team in raising over $28,000 for this cause. She has served as the chair of the Niagara Gutsy Walk on two occasions. In addition to helping fundraise, Rachel shares her personal story of living with crohn’s and colitis and is working hard to encourage people to talk more openly about all forms of irritable bowel syndrome. In addition to her tremendous work with this organization, she volunteers in numerous capacities in her community. She has both worked and volunteered at her church, supporting the organization of summer day camps, refugee assistance and events planning.
She is described as someone who “has a love and compassion for people that is felt by all those around her. She is empathetic and desires to serve those in need.” As Rachel moves on to study science at McMaster University she plans to continue to serve her community in any fashion that she can while working to find a cure for diseases such as crohn’s and colitis.
The Rotary Club of Fonthill and the Executive of District 7090 of Rotary wish to congratulate both girls and wish them the best in their post secondary careers.
