MENOMONIE – For more than 30 years Menomonie Optimists have been recognizing Dunn County high school students who are exceptional role models for their schools, good students and great citizens.  At the Optimists’ November meeting, Samantha Cunningham of Menomonie High School was honored as the Youth of the Month.

Samantha Cunningham has been a part of the Menomonie High School Academy through the Chippewa Valley Technical College Nursing Assistant program.  It is her dream to pursue coursework at CVTC in the Sterile Processing Technician area.  Samantha greatly enjoys her classes in Medical Terminology and Psychology.  In addition to her academic work, Samantha serves as a commissioner for the Link Crew, where she enjoys helping students new to Menomonie High School.  Outside of school, Samantha has served as a receptionist at the Family Hairstyling Salon for the last two and a half years.  Teachers and counselors describe her as dependable, kind and respectful.  Samantha is the daughter of Sara Person and Greg Cunningham.

Honoring Dunn County youth is one focus of the Menomonie Optimist Club.  Other programs are work efforts in conjunction with area middle and high school students at Hoffman Hills State Recreation Area, a dictionary project which supplies every third grader in the county with a dictionary, and the summer Menomin Meander, a family-oriented bike ride around Lake Menomin. Optimists meet monthly at the Exit 45 Restaurant. Visitors are always welcome.