At Danville High School, students have lots of opportunities to get involved and find new interests and passions outside the classroom, like clubs and activities ranging from business and technology to creativity and school spirit. These organizations give students a chance to explore their interests, build friendships and develop skills that will serve them well beyond their time in high school. Whether it’s competing at state, cheering on the Admirals, or creating something new, each club offers a unique way for students to express themselves. The Crow’s Nest asked students about five different student organizations at DHS.

DECA

One of the most active organizations at DHS is DECA, a club focused on business, marketing, and leadership. Members gain hands-on experience in communication and other varieties of professional and business skills, which will benefit them in college or future careers.

The club president, Brynn Haden-McCowan, shared that her interest in DECA started with a love of social media and marketing.

“I already knew I wanted to work in something like that,” she said. “A friend told me DECA was a great opportunity, and I’m so glad I joined.

This year, DECA members are busy preparing for upcoming competitions; the first one was on January 16th. The club currently has about 30 active members, with more students planning to join. Haden-McCowan described the group as close-knit, supportive, and full of energy.

“During state competitions, we get to stay at a hotel with friends; it’s always super fun in between competing,” Haden-McCowan said.

From competitions to team practices, students say DECA is a space where they can challenge themselves while making memories.

Beyond the fun at competitions, DECA offers valuable opportunities that stand out on college and job applications. Members practice leadership, critical thinking, and public speaking, all skills that will prepare them for success long-term.

Educators Rising

Educators Rising is one of Danville High School’s career pathway clubs. It’s for students interested in exploring teaching. Often, members join because they’ve dreamed of becoming teachers for years.

“I’ve always wanted to be a teacher for as long as I can remember,” said Vice President Eliah Snyder. “I thought this would be a good opportunity to learn more about that process.”

The club also creates a space where future educators can connect with others who share the same goals. “It’s nice making new friends who understand what you want to be,” Snyder said.

Recently, Educators Rising participated in its annual Anchor Tree Project, a school-wide food drive tradition. Members paint tree ornaments with lists of needed items and place them in the Danville Independent School District’s buildings, then assemble the donations into large food baskets for families in the district. They work closely with DHS Youth Service Center Director Ms. Jenny Clark and the DHS YSC to determine which households need the most support. Beyond service projects, the club also offers chances to attend competitions and explore the teaching pathway offered at DHS.

Looking ahead, Snyder hopes the club grows in size and visibility. “We don’t really have a lot of people right now,” Snyder said. She said the decline in education majors is something she’s noticed in various ways. Still, she’s optimistic that more students will discover the value of learning about a career that is, as she described, “really underappreciated.”

Members also are very fond of their sponsor, Synder said. “Ms. [Lois] Sepahban is pretty amazing… We’re really lucky to have someone who cares as much about teaching as she does,” Snyder said.

Educators Rising meets at 8 a.m. before school on Mondays. They are currently accepting new members. Students who are interested can contact Lois Sepahban.

Forensics

Forensics is a speech and debate club that is run by the National Speech and Debate Association (NSDA). Students can gain many new skills through Forensics such as public speaking, critical thinking, civil discourse and more. These skills are developed through tournaments. The NSDA hosts tournaments with more than 25 events. These include Dramatic Interpretation, Storytelling, Original Oratory, Public Debate, Informative Speaking, and many others.  Students are scored by a number of points for the event they participate in.

Forensic club member Junior Lena Lidowski said she enjoys Forensics because of the constructive criticism.

“The coaches are not afraid to tell me what I need to improve on, and that means I’m able to improve on them right away,” she said. Through this, members can advance their skills and learn from mistakes.

The club sponsor, Ms. Karen Tompkins, just recently restarted the forensics team in the 2023-2024 school year. She shared why she revived the club at DHS: “I competed when I was in high school and I loved it,” she said. “It was really good for me to learn how to speak in front of people and face my fears that way. I wanted to help other kids do the same.”

Pep Club

Pep club strives to spread school spirit throughout the student body. They do this through spirit weeks, pep rallies, school-wide games and dress-up themes for sporting events.

Madelyn Kernen, president of DHS Pep Club (also a photographer for The Crow’s Nest), grew interested in the club through generations of Danville pride.

“My family has always been a big part of the Danville community,” she said. “Danville has always been established in my heart.”

Pep club is currently working on a school-wide game called “The Beads Game.” This event includes all students and staff at Danville High School and is won by whoever holds the most beads at the end of the game. They can buy beads from the pep club and play rock, paper, scissors with others to win more beads. This not only raises funds for the club but also allows students and staff members to engage in school spirit. Pep club has also started a series of videos called “Anchors Up.” These videos provide students with details on school events. Students can get information on upcoming games, school plays, spirit week themes and more. They are posted weekly and are available for viewing on the Crow’s Nest website.

Kernen said she hopes more students participate in school pride in the pep club’s future.

“I hope the next students continue building more Admiral spirit, having more people involved, and higher turnouts in every event at Danville,” she said.  “It’s really important to show up for your school in any way that you can. These are your classmates that you are supporting. It’s important to show up for everyone, whether it is in arts or sports.”

Students can also meet many new people through the pep club. They can develop friendships not only within the club but at school events as well. Kernen described the pep club as the “central heart of the school” that builds students’ morale and provides them with fun activities to make the school environment more enjoyable.

Technology Student Association (TSA)

The Technology Student Association, or TSA, is a nonprofit organization with the mission to “enhance personal development, leadership, and career opportunities in STEM.”

There are many different competitions, allowing students to practice many different skills.

Mae Pierce, president of Danville High School’s TSA club (and a writer for The Crow’s Nest), said she admires the variability of the events, as it gives students the opportunity “to do whatever they feel passionate about.”

Students have this opportunity with 40 different events to participate in, including animatronics, architectural design, digital video production and fashion design.

TSA is currently working on preparation for its first competition. TSA holds three competitions each year — a regional competition in Winter, a state competition in Spring, and an international competition in Summer. These competitions are held regionally, statewide, and nationally.

“I hope more people in the future will be really dedicated to TSA, get to nationals and get to see how far their project can go,” Pierce said.

She encourages students to join TSA because “there are so many fields, so students always find a competition they want to do.”

TSA also provides students the opportunity to collaborate or work individually. This can allow students to hold a big or small role depending on their commitment or ability levels.

It is not too late to join the TSA club. TSA holds practices after school on Mondays and before school on Fridays.