There are many new clubs that students will have an opportunity to this year, including the Music Appreciation Club, the Junior World Affairs Club and Paws for the Cause.

The Junior World Affairs Club is for students who are interested in helping raise money for world crises. The club founders are juniors Simran Kumar and Samshritha Bikki. One of the purposes of the club is to raise awareness about the water crisis in Mexico and to get involved with the foundation, Isla Urbana. Isla Urbana was co-founded by Carlos Moscoso. Their first project was launched in 2009, but Moscoso died that December.

“The goals and objectives of this club are to hold fundraisers to raise money for the foundation, so that they can install more rainwater harvesting systems,” said Kumar.

The club meets every other Friday from 2:15 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. in room 128. The sponsor for the club is Ms. Christina Crise. She decided to sponsor the club because she knew the founders from previous years.

“I was excited to see where they would go with it,” said Ms. Crise.

The Music Appreciation and Performance Club was created for students who enjoy listening to and performing music with a group of fellow musicians. The club meets every other Wednesday at 2:30 p.m. in room 130, the school’s guitar room.

“We plan on learning about the different genres of music from the past eight centuries,” said junior Jason Van Tine, founder of the Music Appreciation and Performance Club.

“I love music and I want to promote music,” said club sponsor and guitar teacher Mr. Joshua Rettenmayer.

Mr. Rettenmayer decided to sponsor the club to give students access to musical opportunities. He plans to give guitar lessons, hold clinics, and host talent shows.

Paws for the Cause is a service club that focuses on helping animals and animal shelters. The goals of the club are to raise awareness, fundraise, and volunteer at local animal shelters. Paws for the Cause was started by sophomores Melanie Brandt and Maria Grafov and is sponsored by Social Studies teacher Ms. Christine Aragon. Paws for the Cause meets the second and fourth Friday of every month in room 105.

With almost 100 clubs, there is something for every student at Mt. Hebron. The different clubs range from honor societies, service clubs and cultural clubs. These clubs help students find their passion and help them in their career search.

“I think clubs are a vital part of the educational process,” said Mt. Hebron Athletic Director Mr. Brian Rau. “No matter what the club, it helps with the social aspect of high school. [The students] get to feel like they’re a part of something, maybe something that’s even bigger than themselves.”

The new clubs at Mt. Hebron will not only provide new opportunities for the students in the community, but these clubs can also serve as experience for college and work exposure.