TC Key Club Unlocks Student Potential

Key Club is an organization in which students in grades 9-12 sign up for community service projects in a weekly meeting. It is a way for students from all grades to connect while enriching the community. Many students are aware of this organization, but what many do not know is how it has impacted the community for many years, despite other changes that have come over time.

Some parts of Key Club are constant including the sponsorship of the Kiwani’s Club of Alexandria.  It has served as a club in which students can help their community for forty-two years, since 1967. Each year, a president and other officers lead meetings in which they inform participants about new activities and encourage them to sign up for community-building events that are educational, interesting, and benefit society. The most popular activities include babysitting, Challenger soccer and basketball, reading to children, and ushering at the Alexandria Symphony. These are recurring activities in recent years, occurring about once a week.

While babysitting, reading to children, and ushering at the Symphony and other events may be more generic, not many people have heard of Challenger soccer or basketball. In these events, Key Club members along with other adults interact with disabled children and teach them how to play sports. This way, the children get to socialize and learn or develop skills in a new sport. It is a fun way to give back to the community because the children who attend really appreciate the program and enjoy the social and athletic aspects of the program.

Other activities in Key Club are more time-specific. There are special events such as helping with the Alexandria Film Festival, Family Fun Day, and various other community projects including book sales and food drives. Key Club is highly associated with the Titan Expo because members of the club often assist in set-up, clean-up, or working at one of the many booths that help to benefit Alexandria and its schools. The Titan Expo is a fun way to earn money while bringing adults and children of all ages together to support the community and enjoy themselves.

Membership has increased this year in Key Club. One problem Key Club encounters is that people tend to lose interest in the club once athletics and academics become overwhelming. This can be avoided if students focus and work hard in school. Then they can continue to be involved in the club. The minimum number of points one must earn to stay in the club is six per month. Each activity is worth a different amount of points, but on average only two or three activities per month are necessary. This year, more people than ever are paying their dues and becoming members.

One big difference in Key Club is the new position of tenth grade representative, held by Sarah Carroll. Usually, officers are only juniors and seniors. However, this new position allows the younger grade to be influential in Key Club.

Changes may have occurred in Key Club, but it will always remain a great way to meet new people while helping local and nationwide causes. This club is fun and can give all who join a good feeling about their contributions to the community. Anyone can join who maintains a 2.0 GPA and earns six points per month. Key Club may be changing but it remains a great way for students to work together and help the community.