Students have started to submit applications for new clubs, due by the end of the year. The submissions usually take two to three days to process, and then the organizations begin meeting immediately. Over 60 student-led clubs exist this year, including Green Team. Senior Francisco Ardila formed Green Team last year to provide students with opportunities to learn more about environmental issues.
“I wanted to start Green Team in order to provide the students of Vandegrift opportunities to engage in their environmental passions,” Ardila said. “I think it is [hard to balance with school], but with that, you always have enough time for what you make a priority. So, it’s just a matter of making it important for yourself, and then you’ll be willing to spend a lot of time.”
Creating a club involves time to submit an application. Students must find at least 10 initial members and a faculty sponsor, as well as set requirements and meeting dates for the club. Juniors Jackie and Maddie Mendoza successfully completed this process and currently lead as co-presidents of the Literary Lounge.
“Both me and my sister, we like taking the leadership role of it,” Jackie said. “And, so, when we thought to ourselves, ‘This is what we want,’ it was very easy for us to just work together and create it.”
Students can join any club as long as they meet the group’s requirements. These student-led organizations aim to function as a way to meet new people, foster interests, or grow skills in different areas.
“I really enjoy meeting people that I didn’t expect to join the club,” Jackie said. “There were a few people that I’ve never seen before who walked into the club meeting, and I got to know their names and the books that they really like.”
Behind the scenes, the library and administrators regulate the formation of clubs. A committee reviews each application to ensure the club will be successful and not a duplication of a pre-existing group. Besides the administrators, the faculty sponsor also plays a role in the club’s creation.
“My initial reaction to sponsoring Green Team was pride because some of my students were involved in starting a club that related to the class I was teaching them, AP Environmental Science,” Green Team sponsor Danielle Barcenas said. “This showed me how passionate they were about the environment and increased my excitement for teaching the class, as well.”
Just in the past year, Green Team gave presentations to the superintendent Dr. Bruce Gearing, as well as Texas Representative Vikki Goodwin. Green Team’s other impacts include starting aluminum recycling, park cleanups, and working to raise awareness of environmental problems in the school. The initiative was fueled by deep passion from the club’s officers.
“If the reason for why you’re doing the club is in order to build your resume, then you’re probably in it for the wrong reason,” Ardila said. “You want to start a club that creates a real impact and has a real driving purpose, and that’s the best way that you’re going to be able to succeed.”
