Cardinal Newman held its annual Club and Service Fair on September 2 in the CNHS Gymnasium. Students explored thirty-five student-led clubs and met representatives from twenty nonprofit organizations offering volunteer and service opportunities throughout the community.
Club participation and servant leadership are central to the Cardinal Newman experience. During the fair, student leaders represented their clubs and spoke with prospective members about each club’s purpose, activities, membership requirements, and expectations. The wide variety of clubs gives students opportunities to explore their interests, connect with classmates, and develop valuable teamwork and leadership skills.
“Walt Disney once said, ‘Courage is the main quality of leadership, in my opinion, no matter where it is exercised. Usually it implies some risk — especially in new undertakings.”’ At Cardinal Newman, joining an organization, becoming an officer, or creating a new organization gives students a safe place to demonstrate courage, try new things, take on challenges, and learn with support from a faculty mentor and me. In addition to our robust list of returning student organizations, students have taken the leap to create 15 new organizations since July 1. Educating the whole person is fundamental to who we are and occurs both inside and outside the classroom,” said Dr. Cari Murphy, Director of Student Affairs.
This year’s fair also expanded students’ exposure to service opportunities by welcoming twenty nonprofit organizations. The participating organizations represented a broad range of community needs, including services for veterans, senior citizens, individuals with special needs, and other populations in need of additional support.
By speaking directly with nonprofit representatives, students learned more about the challenges facing their community, the work being done to address those needs, and the many ways they can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
All Cardinal Newman students are required to complete 25 hours of community service each year to fulfill the school’s graduation requirements. Beginning this year, six of those 25 hours must be dedicated to serving marginalized populations or individuals. Qualifying service may include assisting veterans, spending time with senior citizens in nursing homes, supporting individuals with special needs, or tutoring children attending Title I schools.
The new requirement encourages students to engage directly with individuals and communities whose experiences and circumstances may be different from their own. Students who complete 100 or more service hours during a school year will also receive special recognition for their commitment to serving others.
Club Day
