Rotary Islanders of the month

Mercer Island Rotary awarded the Islander of the Month award to Mercer Island High School seniors Zach Rowe and Michele Zemplenyi.

Rowe is a National Merit Scholar semifinalist who is a member of the National Honors Society. He is the president of the Committee to Save the Earth at MIHS, where he is also a Natural Helper and a musician who plays bassoon in the band and orchestra, and leads the saxophone section in the marching band. He is enrolled in several AP courses and the Multicultural Scholars program. In addition, he is the manager of the Island Recycling Center, employed by the school district. He has volunteered for Friends of Luther Burbank Park, Leap for Green Festival, Rotary Battery Recycling Project and the Mercer Island Farmers Market, to name a few. He has also biked 204 miles in the Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic and now rows with the Mt. Baker Crew team.

Zemplenyi, the daughter of Jan and Eva Zemplenyi, is the president of the National Honors Society and Math Club at MIHS, as well as the founder of the Music in the Community Club. She is a National Merit Scholar semifinalist who is involved in the Kids Corp Tutoring Club, the Senior Service Club and the school district’s Title IX Evaluation and Compliance Committee. She is also the team captain of girls varsity tennis, and she won first place in both the King County and Seattle Districts Tennis Doubles Tournaments this year, as well as second place in the state doubles tournament. In the community, Zemplenyi performs on piano and cello at Covenant Shores and has overseen food drives at the Mercer Island QFC. She plans to attend a four-year college, pursuing a career in business or science.

Lions Club accepting reusable glasses

The Mercer Island Lions Club is collecting glasses for Third World countries at several locations around the Island: the library, 4400 88th Ave. S.E.; North Fire Station, 3030 78th Ave. S.E.; and Thrift Store, 7710 S.E. 34th St. Glasses must be in good condition without major scratches or damage. Sunglasses are also acceptable. Cases are not required. Optometrists will represcribe the glasses internationally.

For more information, call (206) 232-8736.