By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Westborough High School (WHS) seniors Anna Gimilaro and Brittany Chapin are presidents of the school’s Interact Club. The club, which is part of Rotary International – the world’s first service club organization – offers students opportunities to develop leadership skills while learning responsibility and the importance of serving others.
Steve DeBoer, who has taught history at WHS for 15 years, is currently serving as Interact Club advisor for the third year. And, while he oversees the activities of the club, he does so from the sidelines.
“As I told the girls and every president since I’ve been involved, this is their club,” he said. “They are the leaders with the drive and vision to do their best with the club. In reality, the focus should be on them and the other active members. They do the bulk of the day-to-day work. I’m really just the adult in the room.”
The club boasts more than 100 members and meets once a month to discuss upcoming opportunities while keeping touch in a Facebook group. They work with the Rotary as the “youth arm” to collaborate on local volunteer opportunities and events. In addition, they work to find their own volunteer opportunities as well. Club members have volunteered with the Arts in Common Festival, Tree Lighting on Rotary, Rotary Spring Festival, Westborough Sprint Triathlon, YMCA Spooktacular 5k and the Westborough Library Book Sale – to name a few.
With an army of eager volunteers at the ready, the Interact Club provides community service to any organization in need in the local community.
“We encourage anyone who would like help to reach out to our club,” shared Gimilaro, “as we like to have as many volunteer opportunities as possible for our members.”
According to Gimilaro and Chapin, the Interact Club offers ways for students to show respect and develop personal integrity through service.
“The club’s overall goal is to empower students with the satisfaction of providing for the community and also to make our town a better place by providing help whenever needed,” Chapin explained. “In doing so, members strive to gain responsibility and the willingness to give back.”
As for DeBoer, he believes that the goal of the Interact Club is to encourage students to “work to give of themselves to others and for others and realize that they each have a lot to offer.”
The WHS Interact Club is open to all students who want to lead, engage, and serve their community. For more information or to join, contact DeBoer at WHS.