Rotary Club of Mercer Island has honored Mercer Island High School (MIHS) seniors Hayley Nguyen and Joaquin Matthews as Islanders of the Month.

French 3 and AP French teacher Deana Wiatr recommended Nguyen for the honor, noting that she excels in all her MIHS classes and maintains a 4.0 grade-point average.

In the leadership realm, the focused and friendly Nguyen founded the school’s One Love Club, which is a national organization dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and educating people about signs of unhealthy ones.

“Hayley not only initiated the club but has nurtured its growth in an organized and professional manner. Her commitment to this cause goes beyond mere resume-building; she actively promotes the club and actively engages with its members,” said Wiatr, adding that the club has organized various activities to spread awareness among the school’s sports teams. Through Nguyen’s efforts, the club held a “Move For Love Run/Walk” in the spring of 2023 at Lumen Fiend and netted nearly $2,000 for the One Love Foundation.

According to teacher Kelsey Cochran, Matthews is a diligent, dedicated and enthusiastic Spanish scholar, is the beacon of that department and is an exemplary MIHS senior who also shines in the band sphere.

“He pushes himself every day in class to express himself to the best of his ability in Spanish but, more importantly, he is deeply committed to understanding Spanish-speaking communities in our region, country and abroad,” said Cochran, adding that Matthews participated in a vital student volunteer and cultural exchange trip to Guatemala.

Additionally, “He is a thoughtful student who is quick to draw connections between what we learn in class, his lived experiences and his other studies,” said Cochran.

A leader by example in the classroom, Matthews is well-liked and respected by his peers and displays a friendly and studious disposition that elevates classroom discourse, Cochran added.