Photo from Carlin Ali: Senior Breanna Perez leads Rotary efforts and community cleanup with other Derby High students.
By Shirley Diglio-Guerrette ’27
As the school year comes to a close, the Rotary Interact Club is wrapping up with a few final projects, including one of its most anticipated events: the annual park cleanup. The event brings students together to help improve their local environment by picking up litter and restoring community spaces.
I recently had the chance to speak with Breanna Perez, a senior at Derby High School and the president of the school’s Rotary Interact Club, which partners with the Derby-Shelton Rotary. Perez shared insight into her leadership role and the club’s upcoming community initiatives.
Perez explained that her main responsibility as president is to guide students in becoming strong, responsible leaders. “My role in this club is to teach others how to be responsible leaders and show how giving back to our community makes a difference,” she said.
She joined Rotary during her junior year—the same year the program was introduced at Derby High—without knowing much about it. Now, just a year later, she reflects on how much it has shaped her experience. Looking back, Perez says she is grateful for the opportunity and growth the club has given her.
Last year’s cleanup was especially memorable, as the club partnered with the National Honor Society. Perez recalled the experience with a laugh, mentioning that volunteers even discovered unexpected items—like a toilet hidden in the woods.
Beyond the projects themselves, Perez emphasized the deeper impact of Rotary. “Rotary is all about leadership and taking pride in our community,” she said. “It brings a lot of joy—and even some tears—when you realize what you’ve done and who you’ve helped.”
Through her leadership, Perez continues to inspire others at Derby High School to step up, give back, and make a lasting difference in their community.
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