Thomas Jefferson High School Peace Pole Project to Foster Service Above Self, Pleasant Hill California, USA

October 22, 2025

Rotary’s motto, “Service Above Self,” among young people through a program called Interact, short for “international action.” Pleasant Hills sponsors Interact clubs for students ages 12-18 at Brentwood, South Park, and Thomas Jefferson high schools.

“The purpose and goal for an Interact club is to develop leadership, integrity, respect, and teamwork, to be better communicators, and to promote global goodwill and cultural understanding,” she told the Thomas Jefferson students gathered in the classroom of English teacher Denise Breisinger.

Among the functions of Interact clubs, Kruth explained, are service projects at the local and international levels and helping the sponsoring Rotary club with fundraising activities. Money generated, in turn, benefits various nonprofit organizations.

Another Rotary project involving Thomas Jefferson is a Peace Pole, a monument that displays the message “May Peace Prevail On Earth” on the school campus.