From left to right are Cecilia Mak (3rd place winner), Michael Ramos (1st place), Jessica Ramos (2nd place) and Allison Yu, President of Monterey Park Rotary.

Thursday, March 22nd at Shinano’s Restaurant, Monterey Park Rotarians recognized and honored the winners of the annual ethics essay contest and their families.  The winner for 2012 is Michael Ramos for an essay on what to do when a new student brings weed to school. Jessica Ramos, Michael’s sister, took second place in the contest and Cecilia Mak took third place. All three are students at Mark Keppel High School and members of the Boys and Girls Club of the West San Gabriel Valley. Michael Ramos’ essay will be entered in Rotary District 5300 George R. Hensel Ethics Contest where he could win up to $3,000 in scholarship funds.

The late George Hensel, who was a Rotarian, a resident of Montebello and founder of the California Driving School, established the contest to challenge high school students in District 5300 to analyze ethical issues and concerns confronting them in today’s complex world. Students have to write an essay of 500 to 1,000 words on an ethical dilemma that has touched his or her life. The essay has to include the student’s view of the importance of ethics in this particular situation. It is open to all high school students in the district.

For information on serving your local community through the Monterey Park Rotary, check http://montereyparkrotary.org/. Monterey Park Rotary usually meets every Thursday at 12:15 P.M. at Capital Seafood, 755 W. Garvey Avenue, Monterey Park. For more information on Rotary International and clubs in other communities see http://www.rotary.org/EN/ABOUTUS/Pages/ridefault.aspx.