Watertown High School is proud to announce that Ashley Almendarez Martinez, Nathan Rocole, and Melanie Vande Slunt have been named Watertown Rotary Club outstanding seniors for the month of February 2026.
Almendarez Martinez, Rocole, and Vande Slunt have demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, extracurricular activities, and community service. Each Monday, the seniors join the Rotary Club at their weekly meetings, providing an opportunity to celebrate their achievements and connect with community leaders. This partnership highlights the dedication and hard work of our students and fosters valuable connections between WHS and the Watertown community.
✨ Ashley Almendarez Martinez is the daughter of Ma Mercedes Martinez Vazquez and Juan Francisco Almendarez Castillo. Ashley has been involved in the WHS Band Program and also a member of HOSA (Future Health Professionals) for four years. She has been a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, AVID, and the Dual Language Program where she earned the Biliteracy Seal with Distinction. Ashley has also volunteered her time at Rakefest, the Freshman Experience, the elementary Kindness Retreat, and bell ringing for the Salvation Army. When she isn’t working as a CNA at Marquardt Health Center, she’s preparing for her next chapter at UW–Madison, where she will double major in Biology and Spanish.
✨ Nathan Rocole is the son of Brad and Jaclyne Rocole. Nathan has been a dedicated four-year member of both the WHS Soccer and Wrestling programs. He is an active member in the National Honor Society and currently tutoring students through their student tutoring program. Nathan has also been involved in INTERACT (Student Rotary), mentoring students during the Freshman Experience, and supporting the Milwaukee Veterans Stand Down program. Nathan currently works at Thermo-Tech Mechanical Insulation and is committed to pursuing a future in the dental profession.
✨ Melanie Vande Slunt is the daughter of Aaron and Karen Vande Slunt. Melanie has been a committed four-year member to both the WHS Band and the Girls Soccer program. She is also a member of National Honor Society and Skills USA. Currently an engineering intern with the City of Watertown, she aims to major in aerospace engineering and realize her dream of becoming a missile systems engineer.
Congratulations to these students!
Tradition. Innovation. Transformation.
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