River Hendrych-Bondra, a senior at Bethel Park High School, has been named the Bethel Park Rotary’s November Student of the Month, honored for her achievements in academics, athletics, environmental advocacy, and cultural exchange.
The daughter of Camilla Hendrych and Jason Bondra, River excels academically with a weighted GPA of 4.3 and has applied to eight universities, including the University of Michigan for biomedical engineering and Purdue University for engineering, where her brother Cody is currently a sophomore. Alongside her academic dedication, River is a four-sport athlete, competing in varsity soccer, diving, swimming, and javelin.
River’s passion for environmental activism has significantly impacted Bethel Park High School. As co-president of the Environmental Club, she organizes initiatives like trash cleanups, tree plantings, and a bi-monthly paper recycling program. In the spring, she plans to install flower boxes on campus.
“Like many in my generation, protecting the environment is extremely important to me,” Hendrych-Bondra said. “We all have one home, and we must take care of it.”
Her skills extend beyond the classroom, as she’s deeply involved in her family’s home renovation business. River estimates that her family has been flipping houses for six years, handling everything from plumbing to electrical work, with River learning the ropes primarily from her mother. “I’m excited to implement those skills,” River shared, emphasizing her pride in her hands-on abilities.
Last year, River spent 10 months in Germany through the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX) program with AFS (American Field Service), immersing herself in the language and culture. She attended Ellenrieder-Gymnasium in Constance, a university city with approximately 83,000 inhabitants located at the western end of Lake Constance in the south of Germany. There, she played soccer with a few local teams, forging some lasting friendships along the way.
Reflecting on her journey, she said living abroad in a non-English-speaking country taught her to trust herself more. “I think that experience taught me that I am more capable than I thought,” she said. “Even with a host family, everything was still up to me, and I insisted on doing everything in German.”
River said she even began dreaming in German. “It’s interesting to find yourself dreaming in another language but that’s when I knew for sure that I had successfully adjusted to my new surroundings.”
The Hendrych-Bondra family is also active in hosting international students. This year, they are hosting Ricki Zuehlke from Germany, marking their fourth time as hosts, including previous exchange students from Finland and Argentina.
River’s dedication and values made her a standout choice for the Rotary’s Student of the Month honor. For more information on the Bethel Park Rotary Club and its support for students like River, visit their Facebook page or contact local Rotarians directly.
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