Rotary presents Carolyn Schwent with prestigious award
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The Chester Rotary Club honored Carolyn Schwent at their January 26 meeting by presenting her with the prestigious Paul Harris Fellow award.
The award is a prestigious one within the Rotary. Paul P. Harris, founder of Rotary International. Paul Harris formed the world's first service club, the Rotary Club of Chicago, on 23 February 1905. His intention was to recapture in a professional club the same friendly spirit he had felt in the small towns of his youth.
Today, Paul Harris Society contributions to The Rotary Foundation support a wide range of humanitarian grants and educational programs that enable Rotarians to bring hope and promote international understanding throughout the world.
Rotary District?Governor Greg Yank of O'Fallon was at the Wednesday meeting to present the award to Schwent.
Before presenting the award, Yank stated that Carolyn was well deserving of the award for all the wonderful things she does for the Chester Community.
Schwent was presented with a certificate, a medallion and a pin acknowledging her efforts for the community.
Rotary President Danny James read a letter submitted on Carolyn's behalf for the award.
'Carolyn was employed as the Early Childhood Special?Education teacher until her retirement on May 26, 2006. During her years at C.G.S. Carolyn served many terms as the P.T.S. Treasurer and as the Chester Educational?Association's Treasurer. She volunteered endless hours in the book fair and fund raising events.
Carolyn was kind, patient, and loving with the small children she taught for many years. Many of those students found academic success due to the educational foundation she helped build in their early years of attending school. Her communication skills with parents was extraordinary. She was able to help parents understand the mental, physical, and emotional needs of their children. Carolyn worked very hard to make sure her students never fell through 'the cracks' of the educational system.?She was her students' biggest cheerleader.
Since retiring,?Carolyn has continued to return to C.G.S. to help count money from book fairs and other fund raising events. She and her husband help every year with the P.T.S. Open House. She has always been active in the American Legion and encouraged students to participate in their essay contests.
Carolyn has demonstrated the value of being a public servant.?She has been a wonderful roll model for the students.'
Upon accepting the award, Schwent stated she was very honored to receive the award.
"Thank you for this award. It is a very nice award, " stated Schwent. " I am sitting in a room full of people who are very deserving of this award. That is what this group is all about. Helping."