Nikki Macdonald

I would like to nominate Nikki MacDonald for the Service Above Self Award.  Nikki has continuously demonstrated that she implements our Four Way Test in her daily life.  It’s difficult to think of someone who does as much for her community, school, and students.  She was a pioneer and instrumental in the formation and certification of the Loranger Interact Club. She harnessed the passion of her students that wanted an outlet to, “Just do good.”  The vision she fostered in her students in the middle school showed the value of service above self and provides a great feeder system for our high school Interact club.  Her club was one of the first middle school clubs in our District and this is an accomplishment she should be proud of.  Under Nikki’s advisement, the Interact Club has had numerous service projects and fundraisers that their club presented to our club this past winter. Additionally, she was instrumental in helping the Interact Club coordinate with Kerstin to help collect tons of books for the Nigerian school project. At the Youth Services District Conference in March, the Interact Club presented a wonderful display of their accomplishments throughout their Charter Year. They also collected and donated more gently used shoes than any other Interact Club in our entire District.   Of course, the club members achieved these accomplishments but it’s unlikely that they would have happened without Nikki’s hard work and dedication, all without a stipend and on her own time. 
 

As a teacher, she has genuine deep and personal connections with her students that result in long-lasting relationships.  As a former teacher, even I am impressed by the impact she has in her student’s lives.  Recently, I observed a former parent of one of Nikki’s students stop to tell Nikki, that when Nikki was a long-term substitute at Thornton Academy fifteen years ago, her daughter’s life was transformed under Nikki’s instruction.  Nikki left such an impression on her daughter that the daughter recently wrote a letter to the Thornton Academy Headmaster to inform him that Nikki was the best teacher she ever had and the impact her guidance and mentorship changed her life. She lamented that TA lost its most valuable teacher when she left to teach at Bonny Eagle.  Personally, I have observed former Bonny Eagle students, now in their late 20’s, take the time to seek Nikki out at her family’s store looking for “Ms. Mac” and when she wasn’t there, they would say, “TelI Miss Mac that I made it, thanks to her.”  It was a powerful moment to observe.
 

As the 8^th grade English teacher in Old Orchard Beach, Nikki created and spearheaded a “Red Zone” program where she stays after school to help at risk kids become successful.  She tutors these students on any subject matter that they may be struggling with, or is the mentor to students who needed a little extra guidance with social issues.  This was all done because it is the right thing to do for our youth, without monetary gain.  She teaches because she loves it, she sets high standards and expectations for all students and works with them to ensure success.
 

In the community, Nikki can be seen working alongside the volunteers of OOB365 at every event, whether it is baking and donating food to help feed the food insecure, helping push kids down the snow hill or helping OOB365 fundraise for the revitalization of the Ballpark.  If the community needs help, she steps up.  Additionally, she advises Student Council and spends many hours each week working with the students. One particularly memorable event she organized with the Student Council was a Hunger Games fun food drive that raised over 3,000 canned food items that were donated to the Community Food Pantry.
 

Nikki has a way of making everyone, regardless of age, feel accepted and welcome.  She promotes fellowship and peace by often taking those who don’t appear to fit in and making them part of the team. Her sense of humor, generous disposition, and willingness to serve others while putting others above herself truly encompasses our Rotary core values.  She is a Rotarian at heart and I am happy and proud to nominate Nikki MacDonald for the Service Above Self Award.