The Rotary Club of Kirkland held a meeting online on May 17, 2021.
Attending were James Nevers, Dave Aubry, Dave DeBois, Joanne Primavera, Mike Hunter, John Woodbery,Amy Mutal, Jim Meniketti, Brandon Honcoop, Rich Bergdahl, Kristin Olson, George Anderson, Don Dicks, Gary Cohn, Patti Smith, Steve Shinstrom, Bill Taylor, Bob Auslander, John Pruitt, Margie Glenn, Bella Chaffey, Dwight Olson, and Rick Ostrander.
Nelly Mex Canul describes herself as a proud, passionate, and perseverant Latino woman who aims to be a scientific researcher. Her goal is to improve the way in which technology influences our understanding of disease development and predisposing factors, such as genetics, that affect disease acquisition within underserved communities. Nelly has experienced the hardships of being an immigrant, which is why her mission centers on promoting equality, love, and peace so that each and every person feels included. She’s worked as a leader in both Kirkland's Youth Council and Lake Washington High School’s Latino Peer Council to provide a voice to youth and Latino students, believing that through every act of service, whether small or big, impactful and lasting change can occur. Nelly served as a National Honor Society member for three years, led a Kirkland Needs Assessment to promote awareness of resources within the community, earned a Certificate of Excellence through Washington State’s AAUW, was selected a Rotary Club of Kirkland Student of the Month, and was awarded the Kirkland Firefighters Benevolent Association 2021 Eileen Trentman Youth scholarship. Nelly sincerely believes that hardships and struggles make way for change, the sort of change that can be made only through one’s unique experiences. She says regardless of our struggles, we all have the potential to make a lasting change, and we must persevere to make our voices heard. Nelly was awarded a first year Kirkland Rotary Step Scholarship.
Barbara Lomeli Gil is a senior at Lake Washington High School, and notes proudly that she has been a member of the Kirkland community since the day she was born, and Kirkland is all she’s ever known. Barbara grew up in the Rose Hill area and enjoys watching the sunsets over the water. Currently, Barbara attends Bellevue College as a first-year Running Start student, and is working on receiving her Nursing Assistant certificate. During her time at LWHS, she participated in the ASB team and has interacted with countless faces from the Kirkland community at LW events. Rotarians may have seen Barbara working at concession stands or greeting students on Friday at the LWHS main entrance. She is also the secretary for the first-ever Future Health Professions of America club at Lake Washington High School, which was started by Barbara and her peers 2018. Barbara says she has a passion for helping others and hopes to receive a bachelor's degree in nursing from a four-year university. Barbara was awarded a Kirkland Rotary Scholarship.
Karla Pastrana’s proudest accomplishment is that she is a first-generation college student and is honoring her family’s sacrifice and hard work by following her dreams at the University of Washington at Tacoma. Karla says she is living her best life as an unapologetic, bisexual young adult who is eager to learn and serve her community. She’s currently on the path to majoring in Writing Studies at the University of Washington, and her plan for her future is to become a mangaka/light novelist for the anime community. She says anime is a form of art that has helped her overcome many life obstacles. She knows many kids who are going through struggles and seeking escape through the stories people write. As a writer, she wants to give her readers a reason to smile, laugh, and dream when nothing else in life was giving them that chance. Karla was awarded a second year Kirkland Rotary Step Scholarship.
The Kirkland Chamber of Commerce announced the list of chamber members who made the Best of 425 for 2021. Rotarians will recognize the companies, and note that several have contributed to Monday evening programs during this year. The Rotary Club of Kirkland congratulates Ryan James Fine Arts Gallery, Bellevue Arts Museum, BECU, Doug Perry, Wallick & Volk, Seattle Thread Company, Metropolitan Market, Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, Aegis Living, and Bright Horizons. See the entire list of winners at 425 Magazine.
Nelly Mex Canul describes herself as a proud, passionate, and perseverant Latino woman who aims to be a scientific researcher. Her goal is to improve the way in which technology influences our understanding of disease development and predisposing factors, such as genetics, that affect disease acquisition within underserved communities. Nelly has experienced the hardships of being an immigrant, which is why her mission centers on promoting equality, love, and peace so that each and every person feels included. She’s worked as a leader in both Kirkland's Youth Council and Lake Washington High School’s Latino Peer Council to provide a voice to youth and Latino students, believing that through every act of service, whether small or big, impactful and lasting change can occur. Nelly served as a National Honor Society member for three years, led a Kirkland Needs Assessment to promote awareness of resources within the community, earned a Certificate of Excellence through Washington State’s AAUW, was selected a Rotary Club of Kirkland Student of the Month, and was awarded the Kirkland Firefighters Benevolent Association 2021 Eileen Trentman Youth scholarship. Nelly sincerely believes that hardships and struggles make way for change, the sort of change that can be made only through one’s unique experiences. She says regardless of our struggles, we all have the potential to make a lasting change, and we must persevere to make our voices heard. Nelly was awarded a first year Kirkland Rotary Step Scholarship.
Barbara Lomeli Gil is a senior at Lake Washington High School, and notes proudly that she has been a member of the Kirkland community since the day she was born, and Kirkland is all she’s ever known. Barbara grew up in the Rose Hill area and enjoys watching the sunsets over the water. Currently, Barbara attends Bellevue College as a first-year Running Start student, and is working on receiving her Nursing Assistant certificate. During her time at LWHS, she participated in the ASB team and has interacted with countless faces from the Kirkland community at LW events. Rotarians may have seen Barbara working at concession stands or greeting students on Friday at the LWHS main entrance. She is also the secretary for the first-ever Future Health Professions of America club at Lake Washington High School, which was started by Barbara and her peers 2018. Barbara says she has a passion for helping others and hopes to receive a bachelor's degree in nursing from a four-year university. Barbara was awarded a Kirkland Rotary Scholarship.
Karla Pastrana’s proudest accomplishment is that she is a first-generation college student and is honoring her family’s sacrifice and hard work by following her dreams at the University of Washington at Tacoma. Karla says she is living her best life as an unapologetic, bisexual young adult who is eager to learn and serve her community. She’s currently on the path to majoring in Writing Studies at the University of Washington, and her plan for her future is to become a mangaka/light novelist for the anime community. She says anime is a form of art that has helped her overcome many life obstacles. She knows many kids who are going through struggles and seeking escape through the stories people write. As a writer, she wants to give her readers a reason to smile, laugh, and dream when nothing else in life was giving them that chance. Karla was awarded a second year Kirkland Rotary Step Scholarship.
The Kirkland Chamber of Commerce announced the list of chamber members who made the Best of 425 for 2021. Rotarians will recognize the companies, and note that several have contributed to Monday evening programs during this year. The Rotary Club of Kirkland congratulates Ryan James Fine Arts Gallery, Bellevue Arts Museum, BECU, Doug Perry, Wallick & Volk, Seattle Thread Company, Metropolitan Market, Overlake Medical Center & Clinics, Aegis Living, and Bright Horizons. 
