Monroe High School Interact Club celebrates a decade of Service Above Self

For more than 10 years, the Monroe High School Interact Club, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Middletown and advised by Rotarian Wendy Kissel alongside teachers Jennene Alexander and Chris Napier, has demonstrated that youth leadership knows no boundaries. With more than 25 dedicated members, the club concluded a landmark 2025–26 school year defined by local action and global outreach.

Local and Global Impact

Locally, the club continued its seven-year partnership with Cincinnati's Yellow Ribbon Support Center, collecting more than 650 pounds of Halloween candy and writing hundreds of letters to deployed troops. Globally, members have translated nearly 100 literacy projects for students via the Guatemala Literacy Project since 2017, as well as handcrafted bracelets to support students through the Ghana School Project.

Mentoring and Community Service

Through "Andy and Elmer’s Apple Dumpling Adventure," Interactors read to Monroe Elementary second-graders, teaching Rotary’s "Four-Way Test" through interactive activities and pen pal exchanges. Hands-on projects included building beds with Sleep in Heavenly Peace and supporting local school events.

Building Future Leaders

Over its 10-year history, Monroe has sent more than 25 students to District 6670's Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA) at Camp Kern and helped charter new regional Interact clubs. Members also regularly compete in the Rotary Four-Way Test Speech Contest, winning thousands in prize money. With a newly elected executive board, the club enters its second decade ready to continue putting "Service Above Self."