An Issaquah Rotary Club meeting took a ‘drama-tic’ turn in recognizing four local high school students and their accomplishments in local performing arts during a Feb. 23 meeting.

Recognized by the club for the Student of the Month award, Issaquah Rotary’s Mitch Tallman recognized four individuals for their leadership, scholastic achievement and contributions to the community. Focusing on music and the dramatic arts, administrators from selected Issaquah High School’s Sara Meyer and Mitchell Tant, while Liberty High School chose Arielle Gordon and Dylan Petruzzi for the honor.

Gordon, a talented performer on stage in more than 18 productions over her young career, said she was inspired by the artistry she’s seen as a spectator at Village Theatre and 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle. She was also recognized by Liberty Drama teacher Katherine Klekas for her turn at directing and stage managing.

“She can do anything she chooses to do,” Klekas said.

A different source of inspiration followed with Petruzzi, as Choir Director Joellen Santos paused momentarily to ask the all-state choir performer why he picked up choral singing.

“At first I joined just to go to Disneyland,” he said. The high school senior said he planned to attend Bellevue College next year.

Both Issaquah students Meyer and Tant performed an impromtu duet for the Rotary audience from the musical “White Christmas”, which they both starred in late last year. Tant is a tenor section leader in the school’s choir.

“Music can raise you as a person and get you more involved in society,” he said.

Meyer, who earned an award for a performance at Bellevue College’s One-Act Play Festival last year, shared the same enthusiasm for the art of expression and planned to study cultural anthropology at the University of Oregon next fall. She traced her love for the stage back to a turn as the Genie in a school production of the musical, Aladin.

“Ever since then, I’ve been in love with telling a story on the stage,” she said.