Left to right: Rowin Floth, Kenneth Ryan Gentry, Peter Meade
Members Greet Its Global Grant Awardee
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) Rotarians Rowin Floth and Peter Meade welcomed Kenneth Ryan Gentry to a recent RCSL meeting. Ryan earned a $75,000 RI Global Scholarship grant. Through a request from RCSL, Sun Lakes Foundation 2000 provided $5,000 in global grant matching funds.
Ryan is a 2019 CUSD Hamilton High School graduate. He earned his B.S. International Relations and Affairs degree at U.S. Military Academy West Point and is completing his master’s (with a focus on peace and conflict prevention) at John Hopkins University for Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Emilea-Romagna, Italy.
Ryan is a Paul Harris Fellow, past Interact, and current Rotaract member with lifelong Rotarian mentors. He had been a Rotary Peace Ambassador to Kenya. He is serving as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.
Ryan looks forward to living the practice of diplomacy and strengthening peace efforts around the world.
To learn more about Rotary Club of Sun Lakes, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.
Member and Club Receive Major Recognition
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) has received Rotary International’s (RI) 2024-25 Club Excellence Award. The award is signed by RI Club President Stephanie Urchick and RI Foundation Chair Mark Maloney. Peter Meade, RCSL’s 2024-25 club president and an RI Foundation Major Donor, made the announcement. RCSL was one of 14 Rotary Clubs out of more than 60 District 5495 clubs to receive this prestigious award. The Rotary International Club Excellence Award recognizes Rotary Clubs that achieve goals aligned with Rotary’s strategic plan.
To earn the award, a club must be in good financial standing and achieve at least half of the goals they set in 2024-25, with all achievements reported by the end of the Rotary year. The goals focus on areas such as membership growth, service projects, contributions to the Rotary Foundation, and enhancing public image. RCSL’s members extended congratulations to Peter Meade for his leadership, to fellow members, and to sponsors for their support to achieve this exceptional Rotary honor.
Additionally, RCSL Club President Ed Anderson recently earned the Rotary Foundation’s Major Donor recognition. Ed has been exceptionally generous to the Rotary Foundation during his many years of Rotary service and philanthropy. Since RI was founded, over 100 years ago, the RI Foundation has spent over $4 billion on life-changing, sustainable projects. The RI Foundation helps more than 1.4 million Rotary members in 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries to advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty.
For more information about RCSL, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.
Dr. Elaine Ralls, board president of Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000, sharing CCCS MANA House’s thank your letter for Foundation 2000’s $5,000 grant award
Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000 Supports Catholic Charities MANA House
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Director
Dr. Elaine Ralls, board president of the Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000, shared a letter at a recent Rotary Club of Sun Lakes dinner meeting from Catholic Charities Community Services (CCCS) thanking Foundation 2000 for its $5,000 grant award, which specifically funded the MANA House Security Communication upgrade, which improved the safety and security of its facility, entries, and grounds. CCCS stated it is an honor to steward the gifted No Longer Homeless Campaign funds that change the lives of those who sacrificed for our nation.
MANA House is a peer-run organization of homeless and formerly homeless veterans offering personal, individualized basic resources, community, and advocacy for all veterans. Foundation 2000 is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit formed to promote charitable giving and provide financial support for charities that are endorsed by the Rotary Club of Sun Lakes or Sun Lakes Rotary Foundation 2000.
For more information about MANA House, see www.manahouseaz.org, and for information about RCSL, see www.sunlakesrotary.com.
Jim O’Connell (left) with Rotarian of the Month plaque presented by David Mork (right)
Rotarian of the Month: Jim O’Connell
Dr. Honora Norton, RCSL Public Image Chair
The Rotary Club of Sun Lakes (RCSL) extends congratulations to Sun Lakes resident Jim O’Connell who was named RCSL’s September 2025 Rotarian of the Month (ROM). Per ROM Chair David Mork, Jim has supported RCSL through sharing Rotary historical and informational moments at weekly meetings, taking a leadership role in the distribution and deliveries of the Sun Lakes Splash and Source Books, introducing program speakers, and serving on the RCSL board as vice president. Jim recently graduated from Rotary District 5495’s Leadership Institute, a comprehensive training seminar.
Angelica Abbey
Sun Lakes Rotary’s Educator of the Year Earns Spot as Top 5 Finalist for Arizona Teacher of the Year
Janet McNeil
The Arizona Educational Foundation has announced that Angelica Abbey, a sixth grade teacher at Frye Elementary in Chandler, has been named one of the Top 5 finalists for the 2026 Arizona Teacher of the Year. This prestigious recognition highlights Abbey’s dedication to her students, her school, and the greater Chandler community.
Sun Lakes residents may recognize Abbey’s name. She was honored earlier this year by the Sun Lakes Rotary Club as the 2025 Sandy Lundberg Chandler Unified School District Educator of the Year, a testament to the strong connections she has built with both her school community and Sun Lakes.
Abbey is known not only for her excellence in the classroom, but also for her leadership in creating opportunities that extend far beyond traditional teaching. At Frye Elementary, she:
• Serves as PTO President, strengthening the partnership between families and the school.
• Sponsors Student Council, empowering young leaders to organize school-wide initiatives.
• Manages the school’s social media presence, showcasing student achievements and connecting families to school events.
• Leads innovative programs such as Student Participatory Budgeting where students learn civic responsibility by deciding how to allocate real school funds.
• Designs engaging community events like her College & Career Fair, “Fly Back to Frye” alumni program, and Shark Tank-inspired projects that prepare students for life beyond the classroom.
Her work has been supported by grants, community partnerships, and collaborations with local businesses and organizations, including Sun Lakes groups, demonstrating her commitment to weaving Frye Elementary into the broader Chandler and Sun Lakes community.
When asked what drives her, Abbey points to her students: “I want every child to see themselves as capable, valued, and prepared for their future. That means giving them real-world experiences, a voice in their school, and the chance to connect with the community around them.”
The winner of the Arizona Teacher of the Year award will be announced on Oct. 18. Regardless of the outcome, Abbey’s recognition as a Top 5 finalist shines a spotlight not only on Frye Elementary, but on the supportive Chandler and Sun Lakes communities that help make her work possible.