Sydney Erickson Named Youth Rotarian of the Month for November
Launch the media gallery 1 playerSydney Erickson, SHS Senior, was honored by the Seward Rotary Club on Wednesday, Nov. 16th at their weekly noon meeting as the November Youth Rotarian of the Month. She is the daughter of Brenda and of Seward. Sydney was recognized for outstanding achievements, both in the class room and with her numerous extracurricular activities outside of the classroom. She was presented with Rotary mementos and a Rotary banner, and will now be a finalist for the Youth Rotarian of the Year and the recipient of a Rotary Book Scholarship.
Sydney is a leader in the classroom at SHS. She is one of the two top scholars in her class and always has been on the SHS Honor Roll. She is a member and leader of the SHS National Honor Society and has achieved the Academic All-Conference award and the NSAA Academic All State Award in the area of Drama. She participated in the annual UNL Math Day and a member of the SHS award winning Quiz Bowl team. She was the Carson Scholar nominee for SHS and involved in the High Ability Learners (HAL) Program at Seward High. She was involved in a host of competitions for the Education Division of the Nebraska State Fair and recognized for her achievements in many events.
One of her first loves is music and she is a member of the SHS Marching Band, serving as a section leader and Drum Major for the band, which received all Superior Ratings this year. She is also a member of the SHS Pep Band, Concert Band, Symphonic Band, Percussion Ensemble, Wind Ensemble (Flute) and participated in the Concordia Musical Arts Day several times, along with being selected for the Doane Honor Band. She was “Rookie of the Year” her freshman year and lettered every year in Band. She has also been involved and a member of the SHS Mix Choir.
She is a co-captain of the SHS Speech Team, and qualified last year for State Speech in Informative Public Address. She also was a District Finalist with her Drama Team (OID) last year and won numerous awards in the speech tournament circuit last year over the speech season. She has been very involved in lead roles in the numerous the One Act /Play Production contests at Seward High-competing at the Conference and District levels and was lead role in the school’s competition show this year. She won the Elks Club Speech and Debate Award and the NSAA Academic All State Award in Drama.
Sydney was a Student of the Month, SHS Fine Arts Student of the Month and received and was honored and recognized with numerous SHS PRIDE awards. She is one of the leaders in the SHS Family, Community, Career Leaders of America (FCCLA) and assisted with the annual Outdoor Education Program as a counselor.
Sydney has been a member of the SHS Lady Jays Softball team, the Milford Sports Express Summer Softball team and assisted with Junior Jay softball clinics.
In the community Sydney is very involved with her dance program at Shelly’s School of Dance. She is also a dance instructor at the school for the First Grade class and the Kindergarten class. She also is often employed as a babysitter in her free time. She was a member of the American Legion Girl’s State program her Junior year, sponsored by the Garland Legion Post and Auxiliary. She is a member of the City of Seward Municipal Band every summer and a volunteer for the annual Honey Sunday campaign.
Sydney is an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Seward and one of the voices of their youth program-also assisting with their worship programs and various projects with the church, including their famous County Fair Pie Booth and St. Vincent’s Fish Fry’s! She is also an active and involved member of the church’s Godparent program! She was a counselor for the Fourth Grade Kindness Retreat.
Her “Service Above Self” community service requirement is directed to her assisting other, especially the young people in the community, as a volunteer camp counselor and role model for the youth of the community, whether it is in her dance class-as she instructs the children or with the various camps and workshops she has assisted with over the years-she continues to be a mentor to many of these young children. She has also participated in a host of community service projects through her church, God Parent program and the SHS FCCLA over the years.
Sydney plans to attend either Doane University or Wayne State next year in the area of Education.
The Seward Rotary Club was honored to name Sydney Erickson the November Youth of the Month and will recognize her again in the spring at the SHS Senior Honors Night in May. She is indeed an outstanding example of a successful student at Seward High School and the Seward Rotary is happy to recognize, thank and salute her for living the Rotary Club motto-“Service Above Self!”
Nominations are on the SHS Senior Backpack and available in the SHS Counselor’s office or room 116. One student is nominated every month of the school year, culminating with a Youth Rotarian of the Year in the Spring!