The class of 2026 has had an impact on numerous clubs at the school, from starting their own to expanding current ones. These leaders aim to inspire collaboration and service among the student body.
As the founder and president of the school’s Kansas Association for Youth Club, senior Jordan Powell’s main challenge at the beginning of her tenure was outreach.
“The hard part wasn’t getting it approved by the district or the school,” Powell said. “It was getting kids wanting to be involved in another activity that had to do with service and leadership, because there are a lot of clubs that have those pillars as ingrained in their club.”
Another service-based club is the French National Honor Society. Although the honors society previously existed at the school, senior Liberty Bouskill helped reestablish FNHS last year and got promoted to president this year. To increase membership, Bouskill has aimed to create a welcoming environment as part of her impact.
“I try my best to make everyone feel included,” Bouskill said. “I don’t want to seem super strict or over the top with rules or anything, and I don’t want to be annoying about it. I just try to make sure everyone feels included and feels comfortable talking and contributing to the group.”
Leadership style is important to turn plans into fruition, and a common strategy for effectively managing a club is to encourage club involvement. Powell believes in distributing tasks to maintain cooperation.
“My goal as a leader is to delegate as much as possible,” Powell said. “I believe that people engage in the things that they help create.”
As co-president of Youth for Refugees for the last two years, senior Will Schieber also encourages collaboration, while emphasizing an egalitarian structure.
“My impact has really been in how our leadership is set up,” Schieber said. “Even though [senior Avery Clement] and I are presidents, if the treasurer or secretary or anyone brings up an idea, it’s treated with equal importance.”
Schieber encourages future leaders specifically to find opportunities that continue their club’s mission.
“If you can’t find anything that directly applies to the core value of the club, don’t let it just get stuck in the mud,” Schieber said. “Try to find something beneficial to the community in some way.”
