Interact Club President Jamie Burke and Vice President Nevan Malwana were both named Paul Harris Fellows by Rotary International on March 24, via a Zoom meeting. They are among the youngest recipients of the award in Pelham. Both received this award due to their leadership of a project that supplied school supplies and books a school in Sri Lanka and a library in the Philippines. This project was sponsored by the Interact Club. As one of the highest honors an Interact or Rotary member can receive, both Malwana and Burke lived up to the Rotary’s motto: “service above self.”

In order to be named Paul Harris Fellows, the PMHS Interact club, under the supervision of Malwana and Burke, held multiple drives and fundraisers to attain enough money to purchase a photocopier and collect school supplies to ship to both the Sri Lankan school and the library in the Philippines. According to the plaque, members who are named Paul Harris Fellows are those who succeeded in the, “furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world,” as well as those who donate $1000 to the Rotary Foundation through fundraising.

“It is such a great honor to get this award from Rotary International! I am inspired by the work and dedication I see every day from members of the Pelham Rotary Club and it feels great to be able to receive this award because it is not just a testament to me, but to the support and faith Jamie and I received from all of the members of the Pelham Rotary Club,” Malwana said. 

“I am honored to be recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow. It feels great to be recognized for all the work I have done and have this honor which so many great rotarians have as well,” Burke said. 

Both Malwana and Burke plan to continue their work with the Rotary and Interact in the future, intending to possibly pursue it in college as well as later on. 

As the Rotary’s website describes their mission, they are, “a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.”

Rotary has existed for 110 years, focusing their efforts on such diverse causes as  “promoting peace, fighting disease, providing clean water, sanitation, and hygiene, saving mothers and children, supporting education, and growing local economies.”