NEWS RELEASE from Cairo-Durham Central School District
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Rachna DeRose Selected as the October 2024 "Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight" Recipient
November 6, 2024
CAIRO, NY – The Cairo-Durham Central School District is proud to announce the October 2024 recipient of the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” is Rachna DeRose (‘98).
Rachna, who earned her Master’s Degree of Science in Physical Therapy from D’Youville College in Buffalo, New York, has just celebrated her 20th work anniversary at Greene Meadows Skilled Nursing & Rehabilitation Center and finished the season as an assistant coach for the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team.
Rachna treasures her role as Greene Meadow’s Assistant Director of Rehabilitation. This role provides her with more flexibility and gives her more time with her husband, Steven, and her three children: Nia, Mya, and Jai, who are all Cairo-Durham students.
“I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health care since I was younger,” Rachna DeRose said. “One of the most rewarding parts of my profession is helping patients regain their optimal functional level. For most of them, that means returning home, after a hospitalization.”
For the last 11 years, Rachna has also been known as a talented girls' soccer coach, including coaching for the Rip Van Winkle Youth Soccer Club and being the assistant coach to the Cairo-Durham girls’ varsity soccer team, which made sectionals this season.
“Coaching girls, specifically can be both very rewarding and challenging at the same time,” Rachna said. “Some of these girls I’ve been coaching since they were 4, 5, and 6 years old. It was always my vision to keep them playing together, so they would dominate by the time they came up to school-level soccer. It’s always been my dream to have the outcome they had this season.”
Throughout the multiple nominations for Rachna DeRose, all shared a similar sentiment - she is dedicated and focused on her goals, goes above and beyond, and cares about those in her community.
“Rachna is a well-respected community member and CD Alumni she holds true to the principles of Cairo Durham she strives for excellence in all she does, she achieves success with her hard work and warm heart, and she believes in everything Cairo Durham has to offer,” said one of her nominators.
In her time as a Cairo-Durham student, Rachna enjoyed playing varsity soccer and softball, being a cheerleader, and participating in the National Honor Society.
Sharing wisdom with future generations of Mustangs, Rachna iterated how important it is to be yourself, embrace your unique qualities, and surround yourself with positive friends.
“Always surround yourself with positive people who lift you up and make you want to be the best version of yourself,” DeRose said. “Lastly, it’s okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them. Things aren’t always going to go your way. What matters most, is how you respond.”
To bridge the community and the Cairo-Durham Central School District, the “Mustang Monthly Alumni Spotlight” was created to provide an opportunity for community members to nominate members of the Cairo-Durham Class of 2018 or prior who have made an impact in the community, embrace Cairo-Durham pride and serve as role models to future generations of Mustangs to be recognized on the District’s platforms. Nominations are now open for the November 2024 spotlight, click here to nominate a Cairo-Durham alum. Submissions are due by Tuesday, November 26, 2024 at 3 p.m.
