The North High History Keepers Club has had one of its most successful years this year, successfully organizing two field trips and fundraising money to help fund next year’s club activities.
In previous years, the club lacked a well structured student cabinet where student leaders were able to take it upon themselves and organize club activities. The newly elected President, senior Jorge Ollarzabal and his Vice President junior Jennifer Anima, took it upon themselves to organize various fun club activities that they had previously not had the opportunity to participate in. The two leaders, along with the immense help of their other cabinet members and Club Sponsor, LaNita Smith, organized two huge field trips this year.
"The cabinet was instrumental in the overall success and overall engagement of all of our activities, that was totally student led," Club Sponsor LaNita Smith said. "Without them, it would have been nothing." These members were in charge of promoting the club to the rest of the student body, organizing meetings, planning two out of city field trips and of raising funds for the club.
The big field trip that was organized during the fall was a trip to the Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, KS. The club was able to tour president Eisenhower’s childhood home and also his presidential library.
The second field trip that the club was able to organize was during second semester to Kansas City. The club visited and toured the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and Hall of Fame. The group also toured the American Jazz Museum and learned about famous musicians such as Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong.
While on that trip, the club was able to make a stop for lunch at one of the most famous BBQ restaurants in Kansas City, Arthur Bryant’s. The restaurant has been visited by many famous celebrities and politicians including: Sarah Pailin, John McCain and former presidents Barack Obama, Jimmy Carter.
As the school year is coming to an end, the club held their final meeting of the year on April 30th. The current cabinet members were celebrated for all of their hard work and new cabinet members were introduced. The new cabinet, which was hand picked by the new President Jennifer Anima, consists of Bhila Benji as Vice President, Isabel Fuentes as Secretary, Luis Ruiz as Treasurer and Hugo Alvarez as Secretary of Communications.
This year, the History Club had been revitalized by an enthusiastic group of Seniors that wanted to make it the best club it could be. They organized and fund-raised money to make all of their ideas come true. Now it will be up to Anima and her cabinet to keep the club alive.