TJ clubs allow students to integrate themselves into the community. photo by Evelyn Jackson
With another year comes fresh new opportunities for students to become involved at TJHS.
Every year, Thomas Jefferson High School’s Club Fair gives students the chance to discover something new, and this year was no different. TJ’s Dean, Emily Lupo, claimed that with both lunch periods seeing a strong turnout, students had plenty of opportunities to walk around, meet club members, and find something that interested them. The energy throughout the fair made it clear that students were excited to get involved. Having strong participation during both lunches also made the event more accessible, since students had multiple opportunities to stop by and explore. For many students, the Club Fair is more than just a chance to sign up for an activity; it’s a way to find people with similar interests and become more connected to the proud TJ community.
This year also brought several new and returning clubs to the school. Black Girls Rock is making its return to TJ, giving students another opportunity to build community and celebrate their experiences and interests. The school also welcomed the Card & Board Game Club, which gives students a more relaxed way to spend time with friends while playing various different games. Another new addition is the Spanish Conversation Club, where students are able to practice their Spanish language skills in a more casual setting. With such a variety of clubs, students can find activities based on academics, hobbies, culture, or simply things they enjoy doing outside of class.
One of the newest additions to TJ’s club lineup is the Technology Student Association (TSA), headed by Audio Production teacher, Mark Mallaney. TSA is a Career and Technical Student Organization connected to TJ’s Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, giving students opportunities to develop technical and leadership skills while competing in different events. The organization covers a wide range of interests, including areas such as audio, video, photography, web design, and programming.
According to Mallaney, the organization is a great fit for TJ’s multimedia CTE courses and can also create connections to engineering and robotics. He is especially excited about the expanded opportunities TSA can provide for CTE students. The organization also gives students opportunities to participate in service, competition, and travel. TSA’s state conference at the Gaylord Rockies is one example of how the organization combines competition with the chance to meet talented students from all around Colorado. TJ’s first TSA chapter even had two top-five finalists and a state-qualifying audio podcasting team during its first year.
With returning favorites, brand-new organizations, and opportunities like TSA, this year’s Club Fair showed just how many ways there are to get involved at TJ. Whether students are looking to develop a skill, meet new people, compete, or simply find something fun to do during lunch or after hours, there seems to be a place for everybody.
