This year, Roycemore awarded two students with the Thomas J. Ellis Service Award; Alex Murphy, 11th grade, and Lyra Rivera, 7th grade. Both students were nominated because they demonstrate a spirit of service, leadership among their peers, and a commitment to Roycemore’s mission and values.

Alex has become a true force of civic leadership at Roycemore School. As a member of the Teen Empowerment Club, Alex works within the school community to promote mental health education and advocacy. This year, she independently organized an all-school event to raise awareness of the impact and consequences of cyberbullying. She coordinated with two outside organizations, Buckets Over Bullying and The Organization for Social Media Safety to create an event for all of Roycemore’s 3rd-12th graders and a separate event for our parent community in a matter of days. 

Alex was recently nominated for and won the Rotary Youth Leadership Award and participated in a 3-day long retreat to increase her civic awareness and empower her to change the world. Alex is also an active member of her service-minded Girl Scout troop and is pursuing her Gold Award, the highest award achievable in Scouts. This award will enable her to make a lasting impact on her community.

Lyra began her time at Roycemore with service at her heart, nominated for establishing, running and championing the Middle School environmental activism club, Roots and Shoots, Lyra has led the charge in creating opportunities for young people to have their voices heard. Together, her club recently published the piece "The Importance of Youth Activism on our Environment” in Hutch magazine. Lyra is also a member of the Justin Wynn Leadership Academy where she developed her leadership skills and honed her service-minded heart. The Justin Wynn Leadership Academy awards two scholarships annually to each of District 65’s grade schools. As a member of the Academy, Lyra participates in service projects, volunteer opportunities, and leadership training. 

Congratulations to Alex and Lyra, and thank you both for your service leadership of the Roycemore community!