Donald H. Middleton
Donald H. Middleton was a member of the Orleans Rotary Club from April 11th, 1983 until September 2000, when he resigned because he was leaving Orleans. He donated $1,000 to the Club's Good Works Fund with a request that it be used for awards to Orleans Middle School graduates each spring. fund. He asked that the funds be invested and that the earnings be used for awards based on "high moral character". The club voted to match his contribution with another $1,000 and members donated an additional $170 for a total of $2,170. The funds were invested in a certificate of deposit designated the "Middleton Fund" with the interest to be used for the awards.
The Board appointed a committee to recomend the criteria for the awards, and in March, 2001 the committee met with Greg Baecker, principal of the Middle School to to discuss the proposed awards, They recommended that the awards be based on the Rotary "Four Way Test" with selected students exemplifying Truthfulness, Dependabilty, Fairness, and Friendship.
In 2001 the first awards of $100 savings bonds at a cost of $50 each were presented to three students at the Middle School and one student at the Charter School in Orleans. The students and their parents were invited to accept the awards at a club meeting. Awards have been presented annually since 2001.