![Minutes before the Activities Fair in the gym, president Abhi Gowda ‘26 prepares the stall for his club Helping Hands, Sept. 4. A relatively new club, Helping Hands was co-started by Gowda and focuses on assisting the homeless, and just last year they succeeded in raising a couple hundred donations to send to shelters. This year, they have goals to expand, with hopes to increase volunteer opportunities and take in-person trips to shelters, as well as extend their help beyond just homeless people. “The Activities Fair gives a lot of underclassmen the opportunity to really get to know the Canyon culture, and it gives them many opportunities for service and volunteering,” Gowda said. “[Through the Activities Fair,] I hope to find a bunch of new and passionate members about our club and just get our name out there and spread awareness to the cause that we’re fighting for.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-2-1200x885.jpg)
![The winter guard team makes fifth place at the state championship finals in the Denver Coliseum, March 30. The team performed to Barnes Country's “Glitter and Gold,” lead by coaches Margo Sanford, Blair Bickerton and Anna Orgren. In their class there were a total of nine groups participating, and the top five who made it to finals received a plaque. “[Walking onto the stage] is very nerve-wracking, but also very exciting as well. When you first start color guard there's a lot of anxiety and uncertainty when you first perform in front of an audience, but once you've done it for a while, it starts to become the best part of the season,” Ella West ‘25 said. “It's very fulfilling to see an audience react to something you've put your heart and soul into.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Both-socal-media-nd-website-main-1-1200x846.jpg)
![April marks the 25th anniversary of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, created by the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC). This month is to spread awareness of the harassment, assault and abuse that happens around the world. The symbol that represented the month was a teal ribbon; however, some survivors of assault create different symbols and movements like the TikTok trend in 2022, where survivors would tattoo Medusa on their body, in honor of her backstory in Greek Mythology. “I don't think [this month is known] at all. I rarely see anybody talk about it. I rarely see much of an emphasis on posting it online, or much discussion about it, and I feel like there needs to be way more discussion,” an anonymous source said. “I think just validating every experience that a person has gone through, regardless of the degree of it, the severity, is an essential step into making sure that people are aware that this is a very real problem in a society and that we need to do better in addressing it.”](https://rockmediaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/IMG_0011-1200x900.jpg)
On Sept. 4., club officers left their Seminars early and entered the gym to prepare for one of the largest membership-boosting events of the year: the Activities Fair.
Held during Access, the Activities Fair is an annual opportunity for student-led clubs to increase their exposure and attract new potential members. Many constructed trifolds to advocate for their programs and accompanied sign-ups with free candy and food.
Letters for Rose President Brunda Devireddy ‘26 and Vice President Tvisha Dave ‘26 managed a table at the fair. They revitalized the program after noticing the increased isolation students faced following the global coronavirus pandemic.
“The club was started to help seniors fight loneliness during COVID and now after COVID,” Dave said. “Even though they have more interaction, a lot of them maybe don’t have family members or friends that come by super often, so even one letter could brighten their day.”
Members of the club earn community service hours by writing messages to send to shelters and retirement homes, including facilities like MorningStar Senior Living, with the goal of sharing positive words to recipients.
“Through these connections, a lot of joy can be spread.” Dave said.
While club leaders oversaw their stalls, students were simultaneously able to explore their personal interests and discover the associations best suited for them.
Ishaan Asthana ‘28 attended the Activities Fair and signed up for the Cinematic Jaguars, Chess Club and Finance Club.
“[The Activities Club is advantageous for underclassmen because] it introduces them to new activities that they might have an interest in,” Asthana said. “They can also meet new people and make friends through those activities.”
To officially be recognized as a club on the school website, officers are required to fill out a club charter form and get their program approved by the activities director.
