Four Chandler High School seniors were named student members of the Rotary Club for March 2022. Chynna Norton, Jacob Ostrowski, Peyton Ritz and Destiney Stewart represented their class at the March meeting of the Chandler Rotary Club.
Chynna Norton is the daughter of Ervin Norton and Nan Norton and has one older sibling.
In preparation for life after high school, she has taken college algebra from Rose State College in Midwest City, Okla. Although undecided about which college she wants to attend, she has applied at several in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.
Chynna was her junior class secretary. As a member of Postponing Sexual Involvement, she helped teach junior high students about making right choices pertaining to sexual involvement and alcohol and drug use. She was in Positive Peers and took part in a skit to teach about drinking and driving.
Her volunteer work includes singing Christmas carols for residents at the nursing home in Chandler. She planted flowers in the Susan Ferrell Memorial Garden at the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History, delivered meals on wheels and decorated boxes for care packages to send to soldiers overseas.
It was during a volunteer activity that Chynna experienced service above self. She joined a group in making Christmas cards and taking them to the Veterans Hospital. She says that although she was giving up a free night, her sacrifice was not major but what she experienced was.
The students brought smiles to the patients as they sang Christmas carols for them. Chynna saw that they were bringing joy and maybe making them feel less alone. She says that it was even better when a requested song was sung, the listener would close their eyes and listen like they were at peace.
One especially touching moment for her was when they sang “Amazing Grace” for a gentleman and he began to cry. She admits she could never know what he was thinking, but believes they were tears of joy. The experience gave her the desire to help people get peace and joy in their lives even if it takes sacrifice to make it happen. Jacob Ostrowski is the son
Jacob Ostrowski is the son of Jonathon Ostrowski and Vicki Ostrowski.
He plans to major in kinesiology but is as of yet undecided which college he wants to attend. In preparation for life after high school, Jacob has maintained good grades and a high grade point average. He was active in extracurricular activities and attended college tours and football camps.
He has given back to the community by helping with the Veterans Day program and luncheon and the East Side Elementary School carnival. He participated in “Chandler Sweeps,” helping to clean up Manvel Ave.
Jacob says he learned about service over self as an offensive lineman on the Chandler High School football team for six years. He says that unlike the quarterback, wide receivers or running backs, his position was not one that brings the spotlight, but the lineman’s performance dictates how well the team does overall. If they didn’t do their part, the quarterback would get hit, no amazing catches for the wide receiver and the running back would be lucky to get a first down.
So giving a one hundred percent effort helped the team to have a winning record and the running back to come in second for total rushing yards in the state. Jacob learned that what he put forward on the field helped his team be victorious even though he didn’t reap the fame and glory.
Putting that mindset to his everyday life within his community, Jacob plans to go to his town with the aim to make it a better place for all because serving others over self is enough spotlight for him.
Peyton Ritz, the daughter of Jordan Scheller, has three younger siblings.
She wants to pursue a career in the medical field, nursing or human services. She is looking at several college options. To prepare for life after high school, she has held a job during high school building up a savings. She takes computer classes and has applied for scholarships.
Peyton has been active in Future Farmers of America volunteering to serve at FFA banquets and attending FFA leadership conferences.
The whole objective of Peyton’s work as a waitress is giving service to customers but it was her experience with one older man that showed her what service above self can do for another person. The man had been waiting quite a while for friends to show up before ordering.
She was able to take the time to visit with him and found that while playing football in school, he suffered a bad neck injury, which landed him in the hospital. She found the story to be incredible as he described talking to God. Peyton found that taking time out to listen to someone else, gave her the opportunity to hear an amazing story and make someone else feel important.
Destiney Stewart, the daughter of Jennifer Stewart and James Stewart, has one younger brother.
She plans to further her education in graphic design and vocal performance. She has taken concurrent classes at Gordon Cooper Technology Center. She plans to either accept any job offers she gets after graduating or attend Rose State College or the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond.
Destiney has taken two years of computer classes and has been in the choir for six years. She is a life Girl Scout and has been a leader in the youth group and worship group at Chandler Southern Baptist Church.
Her favorite moment in offering Service Above Self was through Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
The group helped with Stamp Out Starvation, which provides meals for people all over the world.
They made food packages which contained six servings of a rice and soy casserole fortified with 21 essential vitamins and minerals, six dehydrated vegetables and chicken flavoring. Working all day, they were able to make 2,173 meals with a $500 donation.
Doing the work together helped the group to bond and made Destiney wish the whole school participated. She envisioned how many people could be fed if they did. The experience left her wanting to give of herself to help them out in the future.