Supervisor Kate Murray and members of the Hempstead Town Board honored nine women who live or work in the Town of Hempstead for their outstanding contributions to the community at the town’s annual Pathfinder Awards ceremony, which celebrates the victories and profound contributions of women in a variety of endeavors. Island Trees senior Ashley Rottkamp of Levittown won the award in the high school senior category.
“As I read our honorees biographies, I marveled at stories that demonstrated strength, intelligence, compassion and so many impressive qualities and characteristics,” said Murray.
“Several of the ladies whom we are honoring have battled adversity, risen to their individual challenges, fought, persevered and prevailed.”
At just 17-years-old, Rottkamp is the epitome of a Renaissance-woman. She is the class president, homecoming queen, president of the National Honor Society, an AP Scholar with distinction and a committed volunteer for special needs children. A brilliant scholar, Rottkamp has a 4.0 average, is a board member for the National Honor Society, the Foreign
Language Honor Society and is a member of Mathletes and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Adding to her impressive list of credentials, the senior is also the co-founder and president of Glamour Gals, which brings students to nursing homes to give the seniors makeovers. She was Camp ANCHOR Volunteer of the Year for her compassion working with special needs children at the Town of Hempstead camp and is also a Levittown Fire Department cadet.
Rottkamp raises money for Dollars for Scholars and volunteers in the community through Key Club. In addition she is a peer leader, working with younger students to teach them about the dangers of bullying and how to make good decisions. Through Athletes Helping Athletes, Rottkamp teaches younger athletes about good sportsmanship and the dangers of drugs, alcohol and tobacco. An athlete and a musician, Rottkamp is on varsity kickline and plays the flute in both the varsity marching and symphonic band, where she serves as band captain.
This young overachiever is more than deserving of the Pathfinder Award, as she continues to make her family and her community proud.
