The Swampscott Rotary Club recognized Swampscott Middle School student Oliver Tsiorias with its Quest for Excellence Award.

The Quest for Excellence Award is presented to middle school students who exemplify the values of the Swampscott Rotary Club, including honesty and fairness, building goodwill and friendship, and promoting activities that benefit the community. Oliver was selected by his teachers as a student who “exemplifies Rotary’s motto of ‘Service Above Self.’”

“The students that are straight As, they’re always going to get awards. We make the point, we want to recognize the students that are good citizens and are looking out for other people,” Rotary Treasurer Buck Weaver said.

The Rotary Club has recognized students through the program for about 20 years, after it was started by Swampscott attorney Glenn Davids. Weaver recalled that Davids often spoke before the presentations, emphasizing that the award honored “citizenship and good character.”

“He would say, ‘This may or may not be the best student in the class. This may or may not be the best athlete in the class. This is the student you wish that your kid was like this – always looking to help other people, good citizens, helpful to others, conscientious,’” Weaver said. “He may be the smartest kid in the class, but he’s always working hard, trying to do his best.” 

The Rotary Club works with Swampscott Middle School each month to select a student for the award.

“They’re always striving to be as best as they can be,” Weaver said. “(Oliver) seems to be a very nice, young man, so we’d like to recognize him.”

Oliver was presented with the award by his teacher, Lisa Rapisarda, and Rotarian Janelle Cameron.