At Buckhannon-Upshur High School, students spend half an hour on Wednesdays in a club of their choosing. The school offers an array of choices for clubs in hopes of enticing students to follow their passions. Some of the clubs offered include: Recycling, Bridge-Building, Hunting and Fishing, 4-H, the Red Cross Association, Friends of Rachel, and many more.

 

As a highlight this quarter, the Rachel’s Challenge club deserves special recognition for their community involvement. The club at B-UHS conducts fund- raisers to raise money for special causes and help people who are going through hard times. In addition, the club makes Easter baskets for the elderly at Holbrooks and the children at local hospitals each spring.

 

The Rachels’s Challenge club at B-UHS is truly living up to the expectations of the nationwide organization. Rachel’s Challenge (also known as Friends of Rachel) was formed after the Columbine shooting in 1998. Rachel Joy Scott was a victim of the shooting, and soon after her death, her dad found a handprint on the back of her dresser that stated, “These hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of peoples’ heart”.

 

Before her death, Rachel promoted five challenges: look for the best in others, be kind, dream big, choose positive influences, and start a chain reaction. These challenges are what drive the Rachel’s Challenge club at B-UHS. In the club’s effort to meet these challenges, they keep Rachel’s spirit alive.