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Katie Murphy
The annual Lobster Sale is resuming after a one-year hiatus with pre-orders due Oct. 16
International Club is hosting its annual Lobster Sale on Oct. 21 in the main gym entrance from 10:30 a.m.- noon with orders due on Oct. 16. Families can purchase live 1.25 lb lobsters for $20 each.
Proceeds fund scholarships for students to study in other countries and help international students pay class fees and for school dance tickets. Club President Cate Gallagher says this year is special because the fundraiser was canceled last year due to the main organizer John Trewolla passing away, so the club is hoping to receive more orders than usual to make up for lost fundraising.
“The supplier ships the lobsters in from Maine that morning,” Gallagher said. “Usually there are a few extras, but mostly it’s pre-ordered.”
Students can sign up to volunteer and help distribute lobsters by joining the International Club GroupMe.
“[Volunteers] pick up lobsters and put them in little bags,” Gallagher said. “It’s a fun, unique way to volunteer.”
Aside from this fundraiser, International Club meets every third Wednesday of the month to do crafts celebrating European, Asian, Hispanic and other cultures and is currently planning a Halloween event.
Club members encourage seniors to become politically active by registering to vote for the loval election on Nov. 7
Youth and Government Club (YAG) is encouraging seniors to register to vote through presentations in seminar classes and by posting information on social media.
“This is a really important election, and lots of people don’t realize the importance of local government, especially in high school,” Club Co-President Eve Benditt said. “So we spoke to every [senior] seminar class except one about what’s on the ballot, like school board seats.”
Students who are valid U.S. citizens and Kansas state residents who will be 18 or older on or before Election Day on Nov. 7 and aren’t currently serving a felony sentence are eligible to register online. YAG Representative and senior Abi Limbird’s mother Bonnie Limbird is up for reelection on the Prairie Village city council. She encourages students to reach out to local representatives with any questions.
“I think most people don’t realize that [city council members] don’t get paid,” Abi said. “They’re voted on and get paid a framed $1 bill that they give back at the end of their term. They’re really serving just because they want to create change.”
After election results are announced, YAG will host a politician panel this spring with representatives who end up being elected.
“Our vote counts just as much as our parents and grandparents,” Benditt said. “We can’t complain about things our government does, and have a voice that can be heard and not use that voice.”
Junior Board teams who want to study a local nonprofit and compete to earn grant money must select an organization
Students who wish to participate in Junior Board this year must turn in an organization preference form by Oct. 24.
Junior Board is a club where teams of up to seven students select a local nonprofit to study throughout the year. In April, teams present a pitch overview of their organization to judges to compete for grant money to gift their nonprofit. Senior and Executive Board Member Nina Yun suggests forming a team with friends and selecting a nonprofit aligning with your interests and personal connections.
“Certain people are going to be more interested in healthcare organizations, women’s services or food donation than others,” Yun said. “One nonprofit I’ve studied in the past is Della Lamb, which was extra relevant at the time since the U.S. had just pulled out of Afghanistan and the organization supports refugees. Also, my family had immigrated here a few generations back.”
Teams must fill out the Google Form with their top three organization choices and attend a meeting on Oct. 24 in the cafeteria during seminar to receive their official assignment.
SHARE Coordinator Erin Billingsley has helped oversee the Junior Board program for four years and seen memorable selections of nonprofits like the Golden Scoop which helps special needs workers learn professional skills and Pete’s Garden which redistributes surplus food to underserved communities.
“I find projects that I didn’t know as much about before to be more interesting,” Billingsley said. “Junior Board doesn’t only help with people’s presentation skills, it also teaches students what makes nonprofit organizations special and unique and introduces people to a world that’s outside of their own.”
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