Story by Maxwell Gardoce
Staff Writer

As the crowd poured into the gym—hordes of students tightly bottlenecked at the building’s cramped entrance—they then quickly dispersed among huddled yet intricately decorated booths. 

Each booth was fit for clubs trying to achieve differing purposes and goals, some based on common interests, hobbies, cultural identity, and various organizations and programs meant to pique the interest of academically determined peers.

However, all clubs have a common objective among the masses: utilizing marketing tactics to boost exposure, charm attendees, and allure incoming students.

The school’s 2026-27 annual Club Rush was held Thursday and Friday, Sep. 9-10 during lunchtime. It is a major event to take place in the fall semester and is an opportunity for attendees to explore what their peers’ efforts pour into, reflect, and delve into new interests, and for staff to view what students this year have to offer.

Senior Sebastian Davis, vice president of the SPHS Black Student Union, reiterated that “[o]ne of the main goals of our club is to educate people about the history of African Americans in America,” and BSU officers have been “…going around and recruiting people instead of just letting people come to us.”

As the chaos of the first day of Club Rush came to an end, Freshman Bernice Garduce, event coordinator of Filipino Cultural Club, said, “Club Rush was super fun for me. It was really cool getting to know clubs that I wanted to join… it was amazing seeing grades bond and how people had so much pride in their clubs.”

With Club Rush being the school year’s primary introduction for students to encounter clubs, the next major SPHS event focused on clubs will be Homecoming Picnic on Friday, Oct. 16.