On Mar. 1, Clubapalooza was hosted on the basketball court where over 30 clubs participated to spotlight their club and fundraise money. Clubs sold food and arts and crafts hoping to make a profit and attract future members as students packed the blacktops. Although most students decided on their purchase because of the delectable food options offered compared to the school lunch, some wanted to support certain clubs. Since many students made purchases, it’s worth delving into where these contributions will ultimately find a purpose.
With the participating clubs, each has its purpose, whether it’s prompting academic excellence, initiating service projects, or fostering an arts/cultural community. Senior Sorelle Kreter, president of the Spanish Club, talks about her plans for the funds to go to the National Spanish Examination celebration while also promoting Spanish culture to students.
“Spanish Club utilizes profits from Clubapalooza for funding enriching cultural events, such as the National Spanish Exam fiesta and Day of the Dead celebration,” Kreter said. “The money we gain helps us add cultural nuance to each event that we host.”
Spanish Club often provides a variety of events for Spanish students to participate in. The celebration for the National Spanish Exam, an exam that Spanish students can take to test their academic skills against other students nationally, requires funds to operate smoothly. Using the money earned, the club can cater authentic food and hire professional salsa dance instructors so students can better understand the cultures and traditions associated with the language. The club also provides trivia contests with gift options using money earned from events like Clubapalooza, so it is safe to say that your money is in good hands.
Besides academic clubs, art clubs also have great goals of what they want to do with the money.
“Since our club is performance-oriented and we base most of our activities on preparing for shows and events, the funds from our fundraisers will go toward the show costumes for our members,” Vice President of the K4U Dance Club Rachel Chen said.
K4U Dance Club is focused on providing a safe space for students who are passionate about dance, especially K-Pop dances. Club members often participate in school events like Dance Showcase and Arts Week where they perform dances to other students. Since the club is performance-oriented, outfits are a key aspect on stage and contribute to visual effects. Funds gained from Clubapalooza help the club elevate its stages and bring an enjoyable performance for the audience.
Beyond clubs that want to serve UHS and its students, service clubs also use the money earned for a similar purpose, although they aim to benefit the local community. Junior Dawna Hua, art director of Access to Art, a club dedicated to promoting visual arts outside of UHS, shares the improvements they want to make with their profits.
“Using the money we received from the event, we can purchase more art supplies for our volunteering sessions at the library where we provide art lessons to children,” Hua said.
Outside of school, Access to Art members often host interactive classes at the University Park Library for children interested in visual arts, such as drawing. They explore a variety of genres and empower young children by walking them through the process of creating an art piece step by step. With new and adequate materials, they will be able to enhance the experience for the children and keep them engaged.
As a longstanding tradition, Clubapalooza brings an exciting atmosphere and gives clubs a platform to highlight themselves and garner student support. It remains a well-loved event among students as they can grab a delicious meal for lunch while leaving a lasting impact on the clubs on campus.
