Prim named Rotary Kenny Taylor Boy of the Year
Nancy Simpson/The Madera Tribune
The Madera Noon Rotary Club honored the Kenny Taylor Boy of the Month recipients and awarded the Boy of the Year. From left are Alex Segovia, Boy of the Year William Prim, Apolonio Ordaz, Joshua Griffin, Vicente Cisneros Hernandez, Nathan Ornelas, Keoni Garcia and Rafael Guillermo Mota.
Madera High School senior William Edward Prim was named the Kenny Taylor Boy of the Year by the Madera Rotary Club at the 28th annual dinner at the Madera Municipal Golf Course.
Along with Prim, Madera Rotary also honored Boy of the Months — From Madera High- Keoni J. Garcia, Joshua Griffin, Rafael Guillermo Mota, Nathan Ornelas, Apolonio Ordaz, and Alex Segovia. From Madera South High- Vicente Cisneros Hernandez and Triston “Murf” Gray.
As a member of the Madera Exchange Club, Kenny Taylor introduced the Boy of the Month Program, which recognizes all-around achievement by high school seniors in Madera. The program was later moved to Kiwanis and is now sponsored by Madera Rotary. Taylor was a Madera Little League coach and Board Member, and President of the Madera Babe Ruth League. He was positive influence on hundreds of young ball players and was inducted into the Madera High School Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. Ken’s family carries on Ken’s legacy by donating $2,000 so that each Boy of the Month receives a $100 award, and the Boy of the Year earns an $1,100 scholarship.
Boy of the Month candidates were encouraged to apply for the honor by their counselors Aydee Cruz, Laura Alaniz, Michael Ledesma, Cindy Rodriguez, Becky Valdivia, and Celeste Martinez.
Smiles and tears were in abundance as Prim was introduced by teacher Matt Markarian, Garcia by teacher Brandon Harlow, Griffin by coach Kenneth Paolinelli, Mota by counselor Becky Valdivia, Ornelas by program specialist Stephanie Jimenez, Ordaz by coach Joe Romine, Segovia by coach Nic Landeros, and Hernandez by counselor Aydee Cruz. Triston Gray had a baseball game, but would have had his coach, Alan Sandoval, introduce him had he been able to attend.
Those mentors who introduced the students were clearly impressed with these students, and the mutual respect was very much in evidence as the boys each spoke briefly of their future plans.
The Boys of the Month are all excellent students, were active in many activities — sports, music, community service, special interest clubs, etc. — and were the recipients of many awards. It is obvious these young men are each on the pathway to realizing their dreams and serving others.
Rotarians involved in the success of this very heartwarming event were Committee Chair and Master of Ceremonies Darlene Stiers along with Dennis Smith, Mike Takechi, Jane Winning, Carmen Velasquez-Hernandez, Carol Kennedy, and Sue Thornton.
