Citizen of the Year: Pat O’Malley

Patrick O'Malley

St. Charles Rotary Club paid tribute to the members’ selection of citizen of the year and young persons of the year at a dinner Thursday, March 17 at the Satellite Center in Luling.

Patrick O’Malley was a fine choice for citizen of the year on St. Patrick’s Day.

He was nominated by United Way Director John Diaz who said,

“Pat is the most positive person I know, and we’re here to celebrate some good news.”

Diaz mentioned all the bad news that we’re constantly exposed to in the world and how it is good to come together and talk about those who are doing good things like O’Malley as the citizen of the year and Taylor Petit and Jonathan Snyder as the two young persons of the year.

O’Malley currently serves as president of the United Way of St. Charles.

He has also served some 25 years in the Knights of Columbus 2409, has served on the board of Council on Aging, has done can shakes for the Arc of St. Charles and he works Administrator of Ancillary Services in the St. Charles Parish school system. This includes working  with transportation and child nutrition and community education. He feels that his networking connections being in several organizations has helped him do more for the community.  

A Paul Harris fellow was bestowed on O’Malley, which means that $1,000 was donated to the Rotary Foundation in his name. Everyone in the Rotary Club who were also Paul Harris fellows lined up to congratulate O’Malley. The Rotary Citizen of the year was joined by his wife, Tainia, his son, Patrick Jr. and his daughter, Paige. They live in Luling.

Young Persons
of the Year
Taylor Petit from Hahnville High School and Jonathan Snyder of Destrehan High were chosen young persons of the year by the St. Charles Rotary Club.

Taylor Petit participates in many clubs and activities at HHS and is a leader of many. She is enthusiastic, hard-working and confident and boasts a 3.96 GPA.

She is not afraid of a challenge and has taken demanding courses at Hahnville High including 11 honors and five advanced placement courses. She is very active in the school and community while working a part-time job.

She is Lieutenant for the HHS Dance Team and was chosen as an American All Star, serves as co-captain for the Science Olympiad team, vice-president for the HHS Spanish Honor Society, parliamentarian of National Honor Society, Beta Club member, Kick Off mentor, catechist teacher, assistant teacher at dance school and Shriners pediatric hospital volunteer.

She has also been awarded the Dow Award for Excellence for 4 years, Spanish honor award, chosen to attend La. Girl’s state, nominated for student of the year and placed first for advanced math in the 2010 literary rally.

She has become enthusiastic about helping organizations such as the Shriners whose purpose it is to provide healthcare for children. She has raised money for Shriners as well as volunteered at their haunted house. Taylor plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University and study pediatric nursing. Her hobbies include reading, sewing, dancing and traveling with her family. She is the daughter of Angela Fenerty and Craig Petit and they live in Luling.

To read about Jonathan Snyder, see the cover story on 1A.