October Student Rotarians announced
Chandler High School seniors Delaney Haley and Caroline McCalip were named student members of the Rotary Club for October 2021.
Delaney Haley is the daughter of Ryan Haley and Shelley Haley and has one younger sibling. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in nursing at one of Oklahoma’s major universities.
She has prepared for life after high school by learning to be selfreliant. She feels raising farm animals was an instrumental part of learning to take care of responsibilities and not relying on others. She worked hard to maintain a 4.0 grade point average and took the initiative to complete scholarship applications to prevent accruing student loan debt. Managing her own bank accounts has taught her about handling finances.
Delaney is a member of the National and Oklahoma Honor Societies and was selected to serve as an Oklahoma Girls State Delegate. She has demonstrated leadership abilities while serving as president and vice president of the Lincoln County Dairy Club and youth vice president of the Oklahoma Jersey Cattle Club.
She participated in Future Farmers of America, 4-H Club, Positive Peers, and Postponing Sexual Involvement. She played CHS Varsity golf and basketball.
Delaney has served others by helping with community events such as the Bell Cow Boil Crawfish Festival, Veterans’ Day program, Relay for Life and raising money for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital. She is a member of youth group at Chandler First United Methodist Church working in Vacation Bible School and packing gift boxes for Operation Christmas Child.
Among her achievements through volunteer work, she helped the local food pantry to receive a Dairy Max grant, which enabled them to receive a cooler for their dairy products.
Delaney credits her grandma for showing her the results of service for others. Through the 4-H Dairy Club, Delaney began collecting pop tabs to donate to Ronald McDonald House. The tabs are recycled and the money raised is used to allow families of hospitalized children to stay at the House for free.
Delaney’s grandma took some students on a field trip to see what they were accomplishing with their donations. She saw the families returning to their rooms from the hospital and saw how her contribution made a big impact on struggling families whether it was financially or emotionally. She learned the importance of putting a community before self and never wants to stop.
Caroline McCalip, the daughter of Greg and Billie McCalip, has two older siblings. She plans to attend the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond working toward a career in broadcasting and journalism.
She has prepared for life after high school by choosing a college that best fits her needs and getting help from relatives to stay out of student loan debt.
Caroline is a member of National Honor Society serving as vice president and was chosen to serve on the BancFirst Student Board of Directors. She was selected to attend Rotary Youth Leadership Awards camp during her junior year.
A four-year member of CHS Cheer, she was captain of the squad for two years and competed in Cheer Stunt. She also participated in Positive Peers, golf and drama and was a basketball manager.
Caroline has been active in volunteer work throughout high school. She took part in the Veterans’ Day Program, visited the Veterans Hospital and worked at the Lincoln County Museum’s Memorial Garden. She helped out with multiple community events and adopted a family in need for Christmas.
Caroline says it was through the pandemic that she learned how rewarding service above self can be. That summer she wanted to do something that would be beneficial and help others. Her nana said she needed help on her farm and garden.
Caroline spent her summer mornings planting seeds and keeping up the garden. She found that in doing so she was nurturing herself also. She says as she watched the plants grow, she felt herself grow as well in a different way. Being with her nana made them both happy. She learned more about her grandparents and discovered that service over self is always rewarding, even if it is just small acts of kindness.