Local Students, Adults Honored at Founders’ Day Celebration

Mary O’Keefe (second from left) was honored with Julie Dowse for their work with the Fire House youth center. Flanking them are Rosemont principal Suzanne Risse (left) and PTA president Amelia Lapeña.
CREDIT: Photo by Robin GOLDSWORTHY

On March 19, Rosemont Middle School held its annual Founders’ Day celebration. Hosted by the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), in addition to having an association meeting the PTA presented awards for its Reflections and Honorary Service programs. 

In addition to various reports presented by the secretary, principal president and treasurer, an election was held for the 2025-26 PTA executive board. 

Awards included recognition of Rosemont principal Suzanne Risse, who received the Outstanding Administrator Award; Tamar Castano was recognized with the Outstanding Teacher Award; Tanya Sellers and Amelia Lapeña each received a Continuing Service Award; Michelle Mori was presented with the HonoraryService Award. Most poignant was the presentation of the Very Special Person Award to CV Weekly reporter Mary O’Keefe for her work with the Fire House youth center.

Awards for the Reflections Arts were also presented. Reflections Arts is a program that allows students to use their creativity in the following categories to express a student-chosen theme: visual arts, photography, literature, music composition, dance choreography and film production. Students submitted their work and competed with others from their school as well as with others from the entire nation. This year’s theme was Accepting Imperfection.

Awardees of the Reflection Arts program with their parents, members of the board of education and Rosemont administrators.
Photo by Mary O’KEEFE

Recognized were Aiden Yoo, who received an Award of Excellence in music composition; Yuna Kim, who received an Award of Excellence in film production; Suzanna Bodnar, who received an Award of Excellence for her work in photography. The following categories had multiple recognitions: in visual arts, Jayden Chi received an Award of Excellence, and Abigail Kim and David Nam each received an Award of Merit; in literature, Michelle Olmessekian received an Award of Excellence and Allison Kim and Audrey Evans each received an Award of Merit. Students used the universal language of art in their entries. Winners were presented with an award and a certificate for displaying the theme in their own creative way.

Robin Goldsworthy contributed to this story