Chris Flores, a senior at Federal Way High School (FWHS), was chosen as the Federal Way Rotary Club’s “Student of the Year.”

Rotarian Jack Stanford  made the announcement during the Federal Way Public Schools (FWPS) board of directors meeting on Feb. 25.

Stanford cited Flores’s expansive involvement as part of the reason he was chosen for the honor.

“Chris is an amazing kid,” Stanford said. “Chris is very diverse, his mother is Chinese and his father is Guamanian. And it’s just kind of a really cool combination. And Chris has embraced both cultures and done a lot of things in both of those cultures, one of them is Chinese scouting. He’s captain of the swim team … Some of his activities in the community range from food drives for the homeless to playing his guitar at some of the retirement centers. (He covers) kind of a wide range.”

Stanford noted Flores has kept a 3.75 grade-point average while being so involved throughout the community, and is also a student in the district’s tough Cambridge program.

Flores explained what the Chinese scouts were, saying he’s been part of the program for a number of years now.

“I’m in the scouts, the Orca Scouts as they’re known as. It’s one of the first Chinese scouts to be here in Washington, and I’ve been captain for many years, and I’ve taught the newer scouts how to learn all of the lessons we do there. We raise flags, flag raising ceremonies, all that kind of stuff,” he said.

Flores talked about how when he came into high school four years ago, he wanted to do something that would let him “make my mark on high school.”

He found that avenue by learning videography and being a constant presence at FWHS sporting events and other events.

“I would make these videos and everyone seemed to just love them, and I’ve been doing them for as long as I’ve been in high school,” he said. “It’s been amazing and I just love having this opportunity to be at school, to be with all the people there and to share the amazing education we all get.”

Flores said he’s planning on attending the University of Washington, although he hadn’t yet decided whether it will be at the Tacoma or the Seattle branch.

He plans to major in computer science or engineering, but said he plans to continue with his videography as well.

For more information about the Federal Way Rotary Club, visit www.federalwayrotary.org.