Rotary Club of Mercer Island has recognized Mercer Island High School students Salome Grandmougin, Chloe Yang, Liam Chester and Merrick Loeffler as its Islanders of the month. They were honored at Rotary’s meeting on Dec. 3 at the Mercer Island Community and Event Center.
According to instructor Creighton Laughary, Grandmougin — a second-year co-president of the school’s Poetry Club — is kind, inviting and organized, and keeps the club on track and on time. She also works with kids to teach and tutor them in French language classes.
“Salome often flies under the radar, but she is one of those hard-working, unsung hero-types that need more recognition,” Laughary said.
Instructor Joe Bryant noted that Yang is a thoughtful and deserving student of the Rotary honor. She is always looking for ways to improve the school and is currently pursuing a grant from the Paul Allen Foundation.
The national award-winning podcaster has interviewed members of the Mercer Island Historical Society, the founder of the Mercer Island parks system, a local resident who was in a Japanese internment camp and more.
“It has been a true pleasure to serve as one of her teachers and mentors for the past four years,” Bryant said of Yang.
Chester, the editor of the school’s Pegasus literary magazine, is kind, respectful, hard-working and enthusiastic about learning, according to instructor Leslie Seelye. The welcoming student brings out the best in those around him, and he genuinely cares about his peers and wants them to succeed, Seelye added.
“Liam is an amazing human being. He is creative and curious and is a joy to teach,” the instructor said.
Also in the Poetry Club realm, Loeffler is a second-year club leader and has been instrumental in maintaining the “safe space” nature of the club, while also making it inviting to other students, according to Laughary.
Laughary added that Loeffler is an excellent student and a stellar lacrosse athlete.
“Being a senior leader-type, Merrick is in a unique position to serve as a mentor to younger students, often giving encouragement and advice and never seeking a spotlight,” Laughary said.
