The Interact Club here at Pahrump Valley High School is a non-profit community service club whose overall goal is to develop young leaders and look out for the well-being of not only our community, but to people around the world.
Some of the events Interact Club covers are concession stands for football, basketball, and baseball games, as well as track meets at our school. The Interact Club also helps non-profit organizations locally that need assistance. During the fall, they help out with Fall Festival and the Pahrump Disability Outreach Program’s (PDOP) Pumpkin Days. In the past, Interact Club has helped to provide shelter boxes for hurricane survivors and care boxes for Living Free. Living Free is an organization that works against drug addiction and offers other recovery services. Donating to the personal hygiene drive, which helps to provide for the Trojan Trunk as well! The Trojan Trunks gives students free access to anything they might need, whether that is school supplies, clothing, deodorant, or other hygiene products.
The advisor for the club is Mrs. Cunningham, and this is her twelfth year advising. As well as being the coach for the Dance Team and a Special Education Facilitator, she has a busy schedule, but always has time to give back to the community and lend a hand to anyone in need. To her, the most difficult thing has always been finding a suitable meeting time for all the members that is split between lunches. Another difficulty is not having access to as much as bigger cities would. However, providing aid to those in need is all worth it in the end, and it is important to shape new leaders for the world.
The meetings are held during both lunches in the library every Thursday. The meetings are usually short and brief. When deciding events to participate in, it is all the students’ input. They share ideas and bring up what they want to do. Meetings are simple and just involve discussion time and weekly check-ins. There’s still time for the students to get lunch and hang out with their friends afterwards.
McKenna Cunningham is a senior at PVHS as well as the president of the Interact Club. This is her first year as president, and she’s hoping she can be a strong leader for the club and encourage others to join. Originally, she joined as a freshman to support her mom and give back to the community. Community service also helps and looks good on college applications, which will come in handy for her after this year. One of the things she really likes about being a part of the club is working the concession stands with her friends. One of the challenges she faces is getting service hours with such a busy schedule, trying to balance school, athletics, and preparing to enter adulthood. Overall, though, the club has really helped her to be a strong leader and given her basic skills like public speaking.
You may have noticed that for returning students of PVHS that the courtyard now has artificial grass. In previous years, it was just dirt and some rocks, but now it looks much neater and provides more seating for some students. That is all thanks to our Interact Club! The Interact Club is always open to new members, and the more hands they have, the more they can provide for those in need. The requirements of being a member are completing 30 hours of community service in the year and attending the weekly meetings. Check out PVHS’s Interact Club by attending a meeting or seeing Mrs. Cunningham!
