OLD ORCHARD BEACH — Rotary Club of Saco Bay Sunset President Carol Marcotte was recently named a Paul Harris fellow.

The award is given by The Rotary Foundation in "recognition of tangible and significant assistance given for furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."

Marcotte has been active in bringing awareness to and helping fight human sex trafficking. She helped create a website to inform people about human trafficking and provide resources. Marcotte also led an effort to distribute comfort bags to Courage Lives, a residential home for women who have experienced human trafficking, and to raise money for the organization.

She also championed a grant to fix the roof of the convent at the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Anne in Ukraine where young mothers and children refugees are being housed. Marcotte, a professor at University of New England, worked with some of her students to send Christmas cards in both English and Ukrainian to the convent. She has developed a relationship with the Sisters of St. Anne and is traveling to Ukraine this week to meet them in person.

In addition, Marcotte is co-chair of Rotary District 7780 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee and faculty advisor for the UNE Rotaract Club. She has participated in numerous community events, including bell ringing for the Salvation Army, the Old Orchard Beach Fall Fest and the Polio Plus Walkathon at UNE. Most recently, she walked the runway at the Biddeford + Saco Rotary Club fashion soiree.

Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com. She is also an honorary member of the Rotary Club of Saco By Sunset.