Rotary Club of Marion honors Students of the Week
On Thursday, the Rotary Club of Marion recognized Ashley Lopez (center) and Haze Helms (right) of McDowell Early College as the Students of the Week. They were introduced by Rotarian Sarah Washburn (left) and received certificates from President-elect Stacy Buff.
On Thursday, the Rotary Club of Marion recognized Ashley Lopez and Haze Helms of McDowell Early College as the Students of the Week.
They were introduced by Rotarian Sarah Washburn and received certificates from President-elect Stacy Buff.
Lopez is the daughter of Brenda and Pedro Lopez of Marion. She is in the 13th grade at McDowell Early College or a “super senior.”
As for her future plans, she plans to attend either N.C. State University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro or Wake Forest University. She intends to study user experience/user interface design or computer science.
Her school or community recognitions include being a member of the National Honor Society, earning the Presidential Gold Award (ninth through 13th grade) and the English 2 Award, as well as making the top 5% GPA.
Her extracurricular activities include the International Club (club officer and social media manager), church choir, Drawing Club 9, Centro Unido Latino Americano, volunteering at the annual Dia de los Muertos festival, reading to elementary school students and tutoring elementary school students in math.
As for her interests, she enjoys music, art, guitar and design. She enjoys being creative and finding different ways to express herself, especially through music and art. She also enjoys helping others and being involved in her community. She values opportunities where she can use her creativity while making a positive difference for the people around her.
Helms is the son of Angela Allen-Helms and Jeffrey Scott Helms of Marion. He is a “super senior” or in the 13th grade at MEC.
As for a college or university, he plans to attend East Carolina University and wants to become an athletic trainer and work with different sports teams, hopefully at a collegiate or professional level.
His school or community recognitions, awards or accomplishments include being MEC National Honors Society vice president in 2025-2026 and president in 2026-2027, MEC Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, MEC Key Club co-vice president in 2025-2026 and co-president in 2026-2027, MEC Presidents Award for academic excellence 2024-2025 and 2025-2026, McDowell High School Academic Excellence Award for 2022-2023 and 2023-2024, Student Council at MHS for the 2023-2024 school year and lastly awarded the “Bonhomie” Award at West McDowell Middle School in 2022.
His extracurricular activities include the Key Club, the National Honors Society, the Chick-fil-A Leadership Academy, youth group leader and he played football for McDowell High and wrestled for McDowell High in 2022-2023. He works in Spruce Pine on the weekends and is currently looking for a job in Marion for weekdays.
As for his interests, he enjoys hiking, camping, hanging out with friends, trying to learn instruments, along with all kinds of sports and activities.
