Clubs are a vital aspect of high school. They are a way of meeting other students that have the same interest as an individual.
Orono High School offers a wide variety of clubs, ranging from the Robotics and Spanish club to the Origami club and the Math team.
Clubs do not just pop-up over night, though. It takes hard work from a variety of different people to make these clubs come together.
As of fall 2013, three new clubs have been started: the Robotics club, the Yoga club and the Origami club. Some other clubs that have been formed in the past few years are LGBT Alliance and the Chinese club.
These new clubs seemingly appear each new school year, but the majority of these clubs are founded by students for the upcoming year.
Founding a club can be a simple process of finding an advisor and creating awareness for the club.
With the help of guidance counselor Katie Dorn, juniors Paulina Gabos and Julia Steadman formed the Yoga club.
“We wanted to start yoga club because we thought it would be beneficial to students who were stressed out or wanted a fresh start to the day,” junior Paulina Gabos said.
“I found that [on] the days I did yoga, I was a lot more productive and peppy” Gabos said.
To start the club, the two brought the idea up to Dorn and had it approved by her. They then promoted the club at the club fair held at the beginning of the year.
For other students, founding a club was not as easy. The LGBT Alliance took a lot of work to make it an official school club.
Senior Hadley Patton helped found the LGBT Alliance. Patton and a few of her peers decided to start this club to raise support for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community.
“Because LGBT Alliance is such a touchy subject, we had to talk to administration, and Mr. Benson to get it approved” Patton said.
This club was a special case, because most clubs get approval very quickly.
“We go to a public school, so it is understandable that faculty might be wary of approving a club that represents such controversial issues,” said Patton.
Even though gay marriage has been legalized in Minnesota, the club still remains strong in supporting the cause as a whole.
Origami club is another new addition to the school. It is run by sophomore Betsy Surver and advised by Mr. Allex. The club makes new origami every month and showcase it in Mr. Allex’s room.
If someone is interested in starting a club at OHS, the first step is to find a faculty member to advise and support the club. Then fill out a form in the office and wait for it to be approved.
If one is unable to find an already existing club that fits one’s interests, start a new club. New clubs are welcomed at OHS every year.
