Local named student of the month

SPARTA — On Feb. 19, the Wallkill Valley Rotary honored Pope John XXIII Regional High School senior Isabel Murdock as the student of the month.

Murdock, an active participant on the Zero Robotics Team, helped propel the team to its recent third place finish in international tournament play on the International Space Station.

In June 2014 at the National Catholic Educational Association Conference in Dayton, OH, Murdock, along with robotics mentors and select team members, presented on incorporating robotics as a high school extra-curricular program.

Murdock’s excellence in academics and selfless service also earned her a place in the National Honor Society, and she joins fellow NHS members in tutoring peers and serving as ambassadors at school functions.

Outside of school, she is a member of a competitive dance team at Dance Expressions and she has shared her talent as lead dancer, soloist, dance instructor, and dance captain with the casts of school musicals during her four years at Pope John.

Pope John guidance counselor Ann Lopez, who nominated Murdock for the Wallkill Valley Rotary honor, said, “Isabel embodies all of the qualities Rotarians uphold, and throughout her high school career, we have been most fortunate to witness this first hand.”