GPHS Club Interviews

In this article, Teagan McNamara interviews advisors and student members of three clubs at Grants Pass High School including: Healthcare Occupations Students of America, Arts and Crafts Club and Youth Alive.

Grants Pass High School Club Interviews

By Teagan McNamara

At Grants Pass High School, there are still many ways to get involved with extra activities, such as clubs! In all, there are 23 clubs on campus, which gives options and variety to students. Every month, Teagan will be featuring and interviewing three clubs.

HOsA

Advisor: Petra Nye

Student/Event Coordinator: RT Chatfield

Meeting times: Meet once a month (times vary)

Location: Room 404

Health Occupations Students of America or HOSA is an organization that helps develop technical, leadership, medicine and healthcare skills for students. This club also involves volunteer work, group projects, as well as possible national competitive events for CERT drill assist.

Nye, advisor of HOSA explains, “HOSA stands for 'Healthcare Occupations Students of America.' It is a global organization that is affiliated with chapters that serve interested student populations. Often, this includes secondary Health Sciences studies but can also incorporate post-secondary Healthcare universities and relevant fields. As the lead of GPHS Health Sciences, I am the advisor for our HOSA chapter,as well. I welcome the position with great honor and enthusiasm! I hope to inspire and support my health science students in all of their endeavors and inquiries within the field of healthcare and medicine.”

Ms. Nye thinks anyone should apply to join if they are interested in a future career within the healthcare field. Ideally, a student who has taken the E-care course or is currently enrolled in any of Grants Pass High School's health science classes should think about joining. There is also a GPA requirement, an annual fee, and bylaws that need to be acquired. Benefits of this membership include obtaining valuable knowledge of the healthcare careers available within the region, volunteer experience on clinical sites, medically relevant field trips, and HOSA credit to be included on scholarships for college, letters and resumes.

RT Chatfield, the event coordinator, says, “HOSA provides a lot of great opportunities for people looking to enter the medical field. I like that we get extra practice being in medical scenarios before we even graduate high school.” They also talk about how members go on field trips to medical facilities like Hull. This gives opportunities for students to participate in medical competitions for emergency drills such as CERT. Students also practice special effects makeup in the form of moulage. RT only joined HOSA towards the end of last year, but they enjoy the experience received through this organization. They also mention that HOSA has a completely new leadership of students and a new advisor than last year.

Join HOSA if interested in the healthcare field and want to gain experience.

Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Arts and Crafts Club

Advisor: Amanda Gutzman

President: Chloe Wright

Meeting times: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month after school

Location: Room 208

Arts and Crafts club is where students can create decor, D.I. Y. s, crafts and more.

Gutzman, the advisor of Arts and Crafts club, says that the group meets twice a month to create crafts. This year, the projects include clay sculptures, friendship bracelets, painting CDs, rubber band looming, pumpkin painting, and more. Gutzman explains, “I have always loved arts and d.i.y. crafts. It's a joy for me to share the opportunity to be creative with students. Often, some new students attend the club meeting that have never painted something or sculpted with clay, and they get to try something new. It's fun to see them explore a new creative project.” She also says students should join Arts & Crafts club because it is a fun environment where everyone is encouraged to try new things and be creative with no judgment or right or wrong answers.

Chloe Wright, the president of Arts and Crafts club, joined last year in November when it started. She says her favorite part of being president of this club is sparking creativity in youth and creating a safe space for all to let their crafting dreams shine. She loves teaching new crafts like knitting, sculpture-making and painting. Not all kids have access to the supplies necessary to do those crafts at home, so being able to provide students and see them work their magic with it.

Join the Arts and Crafts club at Grants Pass High School to create art and influence creativity.

Photo credit: CoachArt

Youth Alive

Advisor: Andy Frye

Co presidents: Paige Pastrell and Sarah Wiltrout

Meeting times: Most Wednesdays at lunch

Location: Room 137

Youth Alive is a club and opportunity for students to share life, faith and fun with fellow students--all while discussing biblical perspectives in groups where all are welcomed.

Fyre, advisor of Youth Alive says, “The club began as a student-initiated group that was interested in the Bible as a wise guide to life. They are also trying to do some community service. I have known the two presidents for a while and they asked me to be their advisor because they need one to comply with school rules, and I agreed. However, the club is entirely student initiated and led.” He also comments that this club is open to all students that are interested.

According to Paige Pastrell, one of the co-presidents of Youth Alive, her favorite part about being in Youth Alive is the community it creates and becoming a family. A place where students bond over shared faith or interest in the Bible. Everyone within the club is very friendly and open which allows more connections at school. Pastrell says, “As the leader, I am able to come alongside younger students and be a mentor to them. This is super cool because I feel like I’m making a difference in my peers' lives. Sarah and I created this club halfway through last year and have attended and put on all of the meetings. We hope to grow more this year and create a solid community that will continue to expand.” Sarah Wiltrout, the other co-president of Youth Alive, comments: “My favorite part of being a part of this club is getting to know the kids in our club and getting to dissect the Bible and learn new things as we go through it.”

Youth Alive is a great club to join to create a community with shared faith and interests in the Bible.

Photo credit: Oregon Youth Alive

Sources:

Grants Pass High School club students and advisors

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