DISTRICT “SERVICE ABOVE SELF” AWARDS – MARTHA VELASCO AND STEPHANIE VELASCO
District 5420’s “Service Above Self” award recognizes a Rotarian – or Rotaractor – who has demonstrated exemplary humanitarian service, in any form and at any level, with emphasis on personal volunteer efforts and active involvement in helping others through Rotary.
Martha Velasco, is a longtime Rotarian from a family of Rotarians, who serves humanity in the workplace, in her spare time and in Rotary. A social worker for many years, she is also a charter member of the Hispano-Latino Club of Salt Lake and served as club President. Because of work responsibilities, she transferred her Rotary membership to the Midvalley Club where she serves on the club level as Interact advisor. She has also served as a RYLA facilitator and for years has spent the week leading up to New Year’s Day decorating the Rotary float for the Pasadena Rose Parade. In her leisure time, she can be found as a Spanish-speaking interpreter for American Red Cross Blood Donor Services or teaching CPR. She currently serves as District Rotaract chair, a position from which she will step down in July.
Stephanie Velasco, this year’s 2nd District “Service Above Self” recipient was first introduced to Rotary when she attended RYLA in 2010. When she returned home, this award-winning young leader founded an Interact club and served as its president. For 9 years, she documented RYLA photographically and as a young adult, founded a Rotaract club in her community which earned her the title of Rotaractor of the Year for 2013-14. She also has the distinction of being the first in the district to have dual membership as both a Rotarian and a Rotaractor, while currently serving as District Rotaract Representative. She is also the co-chair for the Rotaract Pan-American conference and is a Positive Peace Activator in the US and Canada.
Stephanie is the daughter of DGN Jose and Martha Velasco.