Chandler High School seniors Sophia Eggum and Presley Martzall were named student members of the Rotary Club for December 2021.
Sophia Eggum, the daughter of Sarah Eggum and Dana Tom Eggum, has one older sibling, Grant Eggum.
After graduation from high school, she plans to pursue a degree in business at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater or Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla. In preparation for life after high school, Sophia has been building up a savings account with her income from working at Rt. 66 Family Fun Center in Chandler. She is applying to colleges and looking into housing options.
Sophia’s grades consistently earn her a spot on the honor roll. She was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors and was a manager for the CHS boy’s varsity basketball team. She also participated in Postponing Sexual Involvement and Positive Peers.
Her community service involves participation in Walk 4 Water events through Water 4 Kids International. The walks are designed to raise funds to drill wells in villages across the globe bringing access to safe, clean water to those who don’t have it.
Sophia has taken several mission trips through Hope 4 Kids International. It was on one such trip that she experienced the reward of service above self. She had the opportunity at the age of 16 to travel to Uganda, Africa, for her fourth mission trip. With 20 team members, she embarked across the world with the objective being to “make a difference.”
The volunteers worked in villages across Kampala, Uganda, handconstructing huts with a mixture of mud and cement, volunteering at a church, handing out food, Bibles and clothes to villages and creating small farms for people to grow food for profit and for personal use, among other vital projects.
On the campus of a newly built school, Sophia and her team members painted the school, assisted teachers and created a garden to provide nourishment and agricultural education for the children. In all their endeavors, the group spent time building relationships with the people introducing American games and learning about the Ugandan culture.
Sophia says she saw how putting service above self changed her life and positively affected a community suffering from poverty. Her experience changed her perspective on the world, people, her high school experience and her relationship with God.
Presley Martzall is the daughter of Edie Martzall and is the middle child of three children. She was chosen to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp but was unable to attend due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Her future plans are to pursue a career as a pediatric doctor starting with medical school/ training at the University of Oklahoma in Norman. She is preparing for life after high school by practicing responsible behavior in schoolwork and extracurricular activities. She is applying for scholarships and is involved in positions, which help to expand her leadership and people skills, along with working at Ms. Edie’s home daycare.
Presley has been on the Superintendent’s Honor Roll throughout high school earning her an invitation to the Academic Banquet for four years. She is a member of the Oklahoma Honor Society and was an Oklahoma Girls State delegate. She was selected to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors.
She was in Postponing Sexual Involvement, Positive Peers, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Varsity Cheer. She played softball, track and basketball.
Presley has served her community through nursing home visits, volunteer work at various Chamber of Commerce sponsored events and participation in Veteran’s Day activities. She collected food for the food bank and gifts for those in need at Christmas among other service projects.
Although doing many acts of service for others, it was an in-person encounter that had the strongest impact on Presley. She and other students made Christmas cards to deliver to military veterans along with singing a Christmas carol of their choice.
Presley says walking through the hospital sharing cards, songs, conversation and smiles, was showing gratitude to them for their sacrifice and service during a time when many feel alone. She could feel the presence of something bigger spreading to everyone in the building.
As the group was leaving, one man stopped them and asked if they would sing “Amazing Grace.” Right as they started singing, the man relaxed and closed his eyes as if time stopped and as they continued to sing, he started to cry. In that moment, Presley says, it was as if he could feel nothing but peace, as if nothing else mattered and from him it radiated.
Presley says through him, she learned what a small amount of compassion could do. It was as little as taking a night during a stressful school week and giving a Christmas gift and a little bit of peace for those who fought for our country. The experience taught her that “to serve is to give and the gift we offer is timeless.”