Jon Ward is a retired Foreign Service Officer and Army veteran.  He is a member of the Metro Bethesda Rotary Club and the Rotary Action Group for Peace.  Jon has also served as a Rotary Positive Peace Activator and has been a member of Veterans for Peace.  Jon was recognized by Wisconsin-based Plowshare Fair Trade Marketplace as its 2026 Peacebuilder award for his work with the World Affairs Seminar.

Each year, our club proudly recognizes the educators who shape, inspire, and strengthen our community. For so many years, Kent Mason has led our Teacher of the Year project with dedication and heart, and thanks to his leadership, this tradition continues to thrive.

This year again, we are delighted to honor outstanding teachers whose commitment to their students reflects the very best of our community’s values. Their work makes a lasting difference, and we are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate them.

Karen Willetts grew up in Frostburg and studied at the College of Wooster, spending a year in Dakar, Senegal. She later returned to Senegal as a  teacher, studied Wolof, and trained with Wycliffe Bible Translators. With a Fulbright grant, she earned a Master’s in African Languages in Côte d’Ivoire. After returning to the U.S., she married Dr. Pascal Kokora, former Ivorian Ambassador and Georgetown professor. Karen taught French in MCPS for 27 years, most recently in the IB program at Springbrook High School. In retirement, she and her husband support library and clinic projects in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire.