Senior information and security assurance major and Rotaract at Kennesaw State President Zack Marotta leads a club that encourages students to support each other while supporting the community, according to its OwlLife page.
The club’s motto is “Service Above Self,” meaning that members are expected to set aside time to tackle issues in the community that may be uncomfortable. Rotarians understand that they must show the willingness essential to bring about change.
When Southern Polytechnic State University and KSU were still separate entities, Marotta said Rotaract existed in two chapters — one for each campus. The merge caused a fracturing of the club, which finally restarted in its current form beginning with the Spring 2018 semester.
Since then, the club has made great effort to provide services to the community, most recently working with disabled citizens in Africa, Marotta said. The club sent off essential items to Africa on Tuesday, Feb. 4.
“We’ve recently gone to Crutches 4 Africa … to help load up mobility devices, like crutches and wheelchairs, in a shipping container to be sent to Africa,” Marotta said. “We managed to prepare and load 2,300 items.”
The club also held its “Pennies for Polio” event on Jan. 29, Marotta said.
“We have recently completed Our Pennies for Polio event, where we write cards to the kids at St. Jude and veterans in the hospital for Valentine’s day and collect money to help eradicate polio,” Marotta said. “Last year we raised over $1,200, and we will be counting our donations this year very soon.”
These events embody the club’s core values of helping others, which takes a certain type of person to stay dedicated.
On the same note, Marotta said the club tries to make events at various times so that potential turnout is maximized. The club wants members to feel heard and considered.
“We make sure we can find events and service opportunities at a variety of times so we can find events for everyone to be able to attend,” Marotta said. “We also make a strong point to let our members speak up and talk about what issues matter most to them so that we can find new places to volunteer at.”
The club fosters community among members by sharing their event participation online and sharing accomplishments at bi-monthly meetings. Marotta said the joy of being a rotarian extends beyond the service events.
“When you join rotary, you are inducted into a family,” Marotta said. “If a rotarian spots you walking down the street wearing your pin, there’s a good chance you’ll be invited to … club meetings … If you need to travel somewhere, you can always contact a rotary club of that area and they will help you find a place to stay and keep you safe.”
To get involved, follow the Instagram, @kennesaw.rotaract.
