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The Noontime Rotary Club of Marco Island recognized two students from four different area schools at a luncheon held at the Marco Island Yacht Club on Thursday.

HARMONY OSWALD / Eagle staff

Emily Holten, a fifth grade student at Tommie Barfield Elementary, speaks to a crowd on Thursday, at a luncheon held at the Marco Island Yacht Club to honor "students of the month" for October.

The students were chosen by teachers at Lely High School, Manatee Middle School, Marco Island Charter Middle School and Tommie Barfield Elementary as students of the month for October.

The Rotarian program runs seven months out of the school year, October being the first month. Students are invited for lunch, invited to bring a guest and are accompanied by their teacher, who introduces them and allows them to give a short speech about their current interests and future plans.

"We want to encourage students to continue going down a successful and honorable path," says George Abounader, Noontime Rotary Club president and principal at Marco Island Charter Middle School.

"I think the kids like it very much. They've always shown excitement and enthusiasm beyond my expectations anyway. I can tell you when I survey our members, they always tell me overwhelmingly that it's the best meeting of the month."

HARMONY OSWALD / Eagle staff

The crowd listens intently as TBE fifth grade student Zachary Gober speaks about his interests and goals, during a luncheon at the Yacht Club, held by the Noontime Rotary Club of Marco Island to honor local "Students of the Month" for October.

Each school is tasked with setting the criteria for how they go about choosing a student of the month. Once they select a student, the Rotary Club asks no questions. They just award a certificate to honor that student.

Marco Island Noontime Rotary also gives out around $12,000 in scholarships to students each year. The funds are awarded to area seniors who will attend college. Students send in an application for review, a committee interviews the candidates and a winner is chosen in May.