With 25 active groups, clubs are an important part of many students’ days after the bell rings. Clubs offer students a way to meet their like-minded peers and share common interests together. Clubs not only offer students an academic break, but club participation is something that is looked for when applying to colleges; colleges value students who contribute to the school community outside of the classroom. 

Meeting on the first and third Tuesdays of each month, Key Club is a student-led organization that values leadership, service and character. Key Club focuses on diversity and building connections while allowing students to fulfill service hour commitments. Members describe the Key Club community as fun and diverse.

“We value the opinion of our members and relate that to the events we decide to run,” junior and Key Club President Elissa Hong said. 

Having such a large number of members with differing ideas leads Key Club to many of its unique and fun activities. 

Key Club organizes activities for students at the high school, most recently being lunchtime karaoke. Key Club regularly organizes and assists with community events off-campus as well. 

“We are joining Kiwanis to help manage and prepare goodies for their annual Easter Egg hunt,” Hong said. 

The 45th annual event was held on Easter Sunday at Highland Elementary. Several club members attended a leadership convention called DCON; there, club members refined their leadership skills and interacte with Key Clubbers from across the Pacific Northwest. 

As a group, the Video Game Club meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Video Game Club focuses on relationship building on the basis of a shared interest. Members express that the club provides an environment that almost acts as an escape from academic stress. 

“You get a chance to wind down, relax and have fun with your friends,” junior and Club President Brycen Ith said. 

Ith explained that the club also hosts a more competitive side; in the form of an eSports team. Consisting of both a varsity and jr. varsity team, the LSHS eSports team begins its season in early March. This competitive option provides one more avenue for students looking for that level of formality. eSports players typically travel to these professional events.

“We went to state last year; it was an incredibly fun event,” Ith said. 

Video Game Club is unique in the way that it offers students a fun, low-risk atmosphere to play with friends, while also offering the opportunity to take their skills to the next level and compete in the school’s eSports league should they so choose. 

Also falling under the umbrella of clubs at LSHS sit organizations like DECA and FCCLA. Following state events held in mid-March, both organizations will see LSHS students advancing to compete in national-level competitions in the coming months. Nine DECA members (senior Jasela Sianipar, juniors Ferris Doyle, Ava McGee, Kylie Monson, Lily Turner, Ian Wright, Nate Zeutenhorst, sophomores Sahib Malhi, Donovan MacDonald) are headed to Orlando, FL on April 21 to compete in the International DECA competition. This summer, six FCCLA members (seniors Abbie Bishop, Miguel Cervantes, Mireyli Garcilazo, Kaelyn Holland, juniors Amelia Vasquez, Molly Rose Bates) will travel to Denver, CO and attend the National Leadership Conference on July 2. 

Clubs at LSHS offer students the opportunity to learn new skills, practice old ones, and fulfill community service requirements all while creating friendships that form a stronger, healthier student body.