Congratulations to OHS senior Francesca Taracila who has been named the Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle “SENIOR OF THE MONTH” for December 2024. Francesca’s involvement in the community extends throughout the Orange Schools campus and beyond. Captain of the OHS Varsity Tennis Team B and a member of both the Varsity Swim Team and the Varsity Softball Team, Francesca also serves as Vice President of ‘Girls Engaged in Mentorship and STEM (GEMS).’ The Highest Honors student is an AP Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society.

Francesca serves in a myriad of ways including as a Room Leader for the Book Buddies program, Treasurer for the Baking Club, a member of Key Club (as well as a volunteer with Kiwanis Club endeavors), and as a tutor and swim instructor for elementary and middle school children. Francesca, who exudes positivity, has earned the distinction of earning the Girl Scouts Silver Award by creating a Kindness Garden in front of the Cuyahoga County Library Orange Branch. Created during the pandemic, the garden hosted hundreds of hand-painted rocks with optimistic messages of hope. To further help, Francesca sewed hundreds of cloth masks for first responders in Orange Village and surrounding towns.

Most recently the French Club member also assisted the Alumni Association as a student tour guide during the Orange Schools Centennial Celebration. And she did all of that while participating on the CVC Champion OHS Cross Country Team for which she was recruited just this year! Francesca won the First Team Certificate and was recognized as CVC Athlete of the Week.

Off campus Francesca volunteers at a biomedical research laboratory in the Louis Stokes VA Medical Center where she organizes the lab and conducts experiments with international graduate students. She plans to major in neuroscience or nutrition in college.

Every school year, the Kiwanis Club of Lander Circle recognizes six seniors for their leadership, integrity, and academic achievements. We thank the Kiwanis Club for its ongoing support and congratulate Francesca Taracila as the December Senior of the Month!