The Bethel Park Rotary Club’s September Student of the Month is Bethel Park High School senior
Lydia Blum. She was recently recognized at a small luncheon at
The Garden Restaurant [4912 Gardenville, Road, Pittsburgh, PA, 15236].
Blum carries a 4.2 GPA and serves as the president of the National Honor Society. She also serves on the Homecoming and Ways and Means Committees and was part of groups that reprised the Latin Club and founded the school district’s first-ever Environmental Club, the latter of which is a particular passion for Blum.
“We’ve never really had any organized groups talking about bringing climate awareness to the larger BPHS school community and actionable steps we can take to help create a greener future,” she said.
Over the summer, Blum participated in Penn State University’s PA School for Excellence in the Agricultural Sciences program. The four-week program, which is held as part of the prestigious National Association of Plant Breeders (NAPB) Borlaug Scholars Program, focused on concepts like sustainable farming and malnutrition in the third world. Lydia was also chosen as one of six reps for PA in the Youth Global Food Systems Summit, which focused on food insecurity. Additionally, Blum is part of the Youth Climate Advisory Committee at Phipps Conservatory and Botanic Gardens.
“I have just always been very passionate about climate issues as they impact all of us,” she said. “It is incredibly important to educate the public on these issues so that we can all start working together towards a greener future.”
Blum, who works part time at Affordable Care Veterinary Clinic in Finleyville, Pa., has not yet settled on her collegiate destination but she is considering majoring in pre-veterinary sciences with a minor in sustainability.
Lydia is the is the oldest of three children and the daughter of
Todd and
Kelly Blum.
Students are nominated for Bethel Park Rotary Student of the Month by administrators, teachers, students or community members and are chosen on the basis of academics, as well as scholastic, extracurricular and civic honors and awards, and organization membership and leadership.
At a luncheon held each month, honorees receive a certificate acknowledging their contribution to their community. For more information on Rotary and its’ mission, please ask any Rotarian about it or visit
bethelparkrotary.org. You can also visit their
Facebook page.