Becky Sopher

PORTERSVILLE — Living in Harrisville didn't stop Becky Sopher from earning a community service award in Prospect and Portersville.

The Portersville-Prospect Rotary on Monday at its meeting at Brown's Restaurant presented Sopher with its Outstanding Distinguished Service Award, which is given to people who are not members of the Rotary club but have made a commitment to service above self.

As part of the honor, Sopher received a certificate of recognition, a pin and a medallion.

Though Sopher does not live in the club's area, she is familiar with the community through her job as music teacher at Moraine Elementary School in Prospect.

"We felt she should be recognized here for what she does beyond her school requirements even though she does not live in the area,"said club member Judy Raisley.

Raisley said Sopher uses her personal time to lead the elementary school band at community events sponsored by the Rotary on weekends. Sopher also brings the school's all-star choir to the town's annual Memorial Day celebration.

Sopher said receiving the award was "very humbling and very flattering."

The award is not Sopher's first involvement with the club. About five years ago, she said, the club heard that she needed instruments for her elementary band. The club donated money and began a community-wide instrument drive.

"The Rotary has been very good to me," Sopher said.

In addition to her work in Portersville and Prospect, Sopher is active in Slippery Rock High School's musicals and directs the Harrisville Community Band.

The Distinguished Service Award is given as a Paul Harris Fellow Award, named for the founder of Rotary. In giving Sopher the award, the club contributed $1,000 in her name to the national Paul Harris Fellowship, which funds humanitarian and educational programs.