Reno, Sabelli honored by Rotary

by DONNA MARIE SHURR

Interact Club Advisor

Each month the Oberlin Rotary Club honors two Oberlin High School students as Seniors of the month. These young people are being recognized for their good character and positive attitude. They have contributed their time and energy by helping the school and community, and are excellent role models for the students at Oberlin High School. The Oberlin Rotary Club will donate $50 to a charity or project in the student's name.

The seniors of the month for April were Krystal Reno and Nathan Sabelli. They were honored in May at a weekly noon luncheon of the Oberlin Rotary Club at the Oberlin Inn.

Senior Krystal Reno is very active with both the Oberlin High School Drama Club and Interact Club. Reno has been involved with the productions of many shows, both on stage and behind the scenes. Some of the club and class productions she has participated in are: "What the Bellhop Saw," "The Great High School Who Dunn it?" "Trouble at the Talent Show," "Dark Deeds at Swans Place or Never Trust a Tattooed Sailor," "They Dance Real Slow in Jackson," "The Curse of the Baskerville Hound," "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying," "New Clothes of the Emperor," and "The Wedding from Hell."

Reno has enjoyed her roles on stage and all that occurs backstage. She has developed skills such as running lights, properties mistress, ushering, and organizing costumes. Reno has been a member of Interact club for four years, holding positions such as head of international affairs and vice president. Being in Interact Club has helped Reno develop a philosophy of life, which includes service to others.

Outside school Reno holds a part-time job at McDonald's. She has worked there for three years and is currently a crew trainer. When time permits Reno works full time. She also enjoys baby-sitting and being involved with the Vacation Bible School at her church, The United Methodist Church of Oberlin.

Although Reno has been accepted to Kent State and Ashland universities, she has decided to attend Kent State to major in education. She intends to get her teaching license in integrated social studies and minor in theatre.

Reno feels her biggest strength is her ability to manage a very busy schedule. She said, "I like to stay busy and even though that gets stressful at times, I tend to get a lot done and stay very involved with the community." She would like to be remembered as someone who helped out where she could, got along with everyone, and was still a fun person to be around.

Although he has been active in sports, Nathan Sabelli's interests in writing and computers seem to top the list. He has been a journalist for the school newspaper and intends to major in English, particularly creative writing or journalism, or computer science. Sabelli served two years as goalkeeper for the JV soccer team, one year as backup goalkeeper for varsity, and finished his senior year starting varsity.

He has played doubles in tennis for three years, one of those on the JV team and these past two years on the OHS varsity tennis team. Sabelli has also been inducted into the National Honor Society.

Outside school Sabelli enjoys writing short stories and surfing the Internet. He is a frequent participant in online communities. He spent a few years in a small community writing stories, and is currently an active member in a large online forum. He considers himself an unofficial part-time editor and advisor of the active fan-fiction (stories based on some other published work) and role-playing forum. He also occasionally writes stories of his own for the forum.

Sabelli plans on attending a four-year college to major in English or computer science. He has been accepted into the Miami Honors and Scholars Program at Miami University. Sabelli was offered the President's Scholarship at Case Western Reserve University. He has also been nominated by the high school for Robert C. Byrd Honors Scholarship. However, Sabelli has decided to attend Oberlin College. He considers it an excellent liberal arts college where he could try several subjects until he finds something that he would like to focus on. The college also offers an extensive creative writing major and program, and Nathan would like to apply for that.

National Honor Society has given Sabelli many opportunities for community service activities, including recycling for the school, helping with bake sales, and tutoring students.

Sabelli believes his greatest ability is to complete a project quickly but with high quality. He would like to be remembered by his teachers as hardworking and by his classmates as easygoing.