Elmore, Laird are September Rotary Students of the Month

Kai Elmore and Magdalena Laird were named Students of the Month for September by the Mount Vernon Rotary Club at its weekly meeting on Friday, Sept. 25.

Kai Elmore is the son of Steve and Ashley Elmore. A senior at Mount Vernon High School, Elmore holds a 4.2 GPA. He plans to pursue a career in the film industry, possibly in animation and business management. He has been accepted to Stephen F. Austin State University and will apply to other colleges to increase his options. Kai would like to start an independent film studio.

Kai is a member of the National Honor Society, is an officer with the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club, the University Interscholastic League Film team, and the Mount Vernon Audio / Video (MVAV) team. As a junior, he was selected to participate in the Leaders of Tomorrow program and volunteers with the Mount Vernon CARES Junior mentoring program, which is in its formative stages.

Magdalena Laird, better known as Maggie to family and friends, is the daughter of Rustin and Danielle Laird. She is taking three dual credit courses through Northeast Texas Community College, where she plans to complete her associate’s degree. After that, she hopes to attend Texas A&M to pursue a degree along their vertebrate zoology track.
“I'm passionate about conservation and just all the animals in our world. I see the beauty and love in all of them. I want to make sure that they all can stay in our world and to conserve them for the future,” said Maggie.

Also, a senior at MVHS, Maggie holds a 3.8 GPA. She is a member of the MVHS FFA Floriculture team, the University Interscholastic League Science team, and the Rotary-sponsored Interact Club.

Jill Richmond, the club’s liaison to the Interact Club, introduced the students. Local club president Rachel Pearce presented the two youth with a plaque emblazoned with the Rotary 4Way Test for their rooms. They were joined by their parents and a sibling for the lunch meeting and recognition ceremony.