LAKOTA OPTIMISTS SELECT TEENS OF THE MONTH
The Lakota Optimist Club has selected two outstanding young ladies to represent Lakota West and Lakota East as Teens of the Month for December. Ekta Bhakta of Lakota West and Margaret Penner of Lakota East, were tabbed as junior teen honorees for the December. The proud parents of these two young ladies are Bob and Pravina Bhakta and Herbert and Patricia Penner respectively.
Ekta's school activities include participation in the peer counseling, peer mediation, membership in the PRIDE organization, co chair for RASKALS, multicultural enhancement club, Junior Statesmen of America, Spanish Club, prom committee, GMC Leadership Committee, Student on Stage, as well as numerous positions of leadership within the Lakota West student government.
Her church and community activities find her volunteering her talents through community service for the West Chester Fire Department, the Fairfield Center and Reach Out Lakota. Ekta is a very active member of the Hindu Society of Greater Cincinnati and has done volunteer work for carnivals and dinners at the temple. She is a member of the Indian Youth Association, where she also serves as the public relations director. Despite having a wide range of activities and interests, Ekta is extremely accomplished in the classroom carrying an "A" average. Her hobbies include spending quality time with her family, exploring the secrets of the computer and playing children.
Margaret's school activities include participation in the German Club, Mu Alpha Theta, the Thunderhawk Marching Band, German Honors Society, Junior Statesmen of America, French Club, Multicultural Enhancement Club, playing in the Pit Orchestra for theatrical productions and the Computer Science Club. She is also very active in the activities of the Cincinnati Mennonite Fellowship, where she plays the piano, volunteers for church camp duties and thoroughly enjoys the church's youth group. Margaret's volunteer efforts include tutoring at Woodland and Independence Elementary Schools and the Fort Liberty Playground construction project. In her spare time, she teaches piano and takes dance instruction. Her hobbies are based around playing music, reading, writing and dancing. Margaret combines a wide variety of school and community activities with unparalleled success in the classroom, where she is #1 in her class with an A+ average. The Lakota Optimists are very proud to honor the outstanding efforts and accomplishments of Lakota West's Ekta Bhakta and Lakota East's Margaret Penner and name them as "Teens of the Month" for December.
