When Northeast High School began its affiliation with Kansas Association for Youth two years ago, its charter members vowed that their school would one day host a major KAY conference.
“We decided when we were sophomores that we wanted to host one our senior year,” said NHS senior and KAY Club vice president Nick Popejoy.
On Friday, the Arma group got its chance.
More than 200 students from more than 20 regional schools gathered at NHS to discuss different ways they can better their own communities through various service projects. The conference was also attended by state and local leaders who discussed with the students the importance of student-led community service. It was all part of KAY’s mission to “provide students an opportunity to learn to assume their citizenship responsibilities.”
“They learn to do things for other people because it’s the right thing to do,” said Cheryl Gleason, the state’s KAY director.
Founded in 1946, KAY is a character-building, leadership-training service program directed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Its programs are designed to “educate, inspire and direct” its members into planned service projects. Each fall, the group’s six regions conduct regional conferences to allow members to meet with neighboring clubs to discuss successes and challenges, as well as to throw ideas off of each other for future projects.
“It is really a good opportunity to talk to them about leadership and to pump them up for the second semester,” said Kristy Custer, assistant principal at Complete High School Maize in Maize.
Curtis Major, NHS senior and the school’s KAY Club president, said he joined the organization to build leadership skills and because he enjoys public speaking.
“I like helping people, in general,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership and how to better help people by being involved in this group.”
Examples of how the NHS KAY group has provided service to the Arma and Franklin communities range from serving spaghetti every other Saturday at the Arma American Legion to decorating the school during holidays. This afternoon, the students will serve food at a veterans dinner at the Franklin Community Center and Heritage Museum.
Popejoy said he’s grown as a person since being involved with KAY.
“You really get to meet a lot more people and learn new ideas to help your school,” he said. “Some of the big things we do with our club really go toward building school spirit.”
Renee Popejoy, Nick’s mother and the NHS KAY Club sponsor, praised the students for their dedication to the group and for their efforts in helping to organize Friday’s conference.
“It’s been so good for my kids,” she said. “I’m so proud of them. They’ve worked really hard to organize all of this. It’s been really good for our club to pull together.”
Custer, who has traveled the state as a KAY guest speaker, said she has seen strong results in the various communities where KAY groups have formed.
“Communities that have KAY in their towns have a higher level of community and it makes students more responsible,” she said. “It makes them look outside their own little selves and onto how they can help others.”
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When Northeast High School began its affiliation with Kansas Association for Youth two years ago, its charter members vowed that their school would one day host a major KAY conference.
“We decided when we were sophomores that we wanted to host one our senior year,” said NHS senior and KAY Club vice president Nick Popejoy.
On Friday, the Arma group got its chance.
More than 200 students from more than 20 regional schools gathered at NHS to discuss different ways they can better their own communities through various service projects. The conference was also attended by state and local leaders who discussed with the students the importance of student-led community service. It was all part of KAY’s mission to “provide students an opportunity to learn to assume their citizenship responsibilities.”
“They learn to do things for other people because it’s the right thing to do,” said Cheryl Gleason, the state’s KAY director.
Founded in 1946, KAY is a character-building, leadership-training service program directed by the Kansas State High School Activities Association. Its programs are designed to “educate, inspire and direct” its members into planned service projects. Each fall, the group’s six regions conduct regional conferences to allow members to meet with neighboring clubs to discuss successes and challenges, as well as to throw ideas off of each other for future projects.
“It is really a good opportunity to talk to them about leadership and to pump them up for the second semester,” said Kristy Custer, assistant principal at Complete High School Maize in Maize.
Curtis Major, NHS senior and the school’s KAY Club president, said he joined the organization to build leadership skills and because he enjoys public speaking.
“I like helping people, in general,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot about leadership and how to better help people by being involved in this group.”
Examples of how the NHS KAY group has provided service to the Arma and Franklin communities range from serving spaghetti every other Saturday at the Arma American Legion to decorating the school during holidays. This afternoon, the students will serve food at a veterans dinner at the Franklin Community Center and Heritage Museum.
Popejoy said he’s grown as a person since being involved with KAY.
“You really get to meet a lot more people and learn new ideas to help your school,” he said. “Some of the big things we do with our club really go toward building school spirit.”
Renee Popejoy, Nick’s mother and the NHS KAY Club sponsor, praised the students for their dedication to the group and for their efforts in helping to organize Friday’s conference.
“It’s been so good for my kids,” she said. “I’m so proud of them. They’ve worked really hard to organize all of this. It’s been really good for our club to pull together.”
Custer, who has traveled the state as a KAY guest speaker, said she has seen strong results in the various communities where KAY groups have formed.
“Communities that have KAY in their towns have a higher level of community and it makes students more responsible,” she said. “It makes them look outside their own little selves and onto how they can help others.”
