Queen Creek Unified club helps develop student leaders

At Gateway Polytechnic Academy in the Queen Creek Unified School District, the Leading Out Loud club is creating opportunities for students to grow as leaders while giving back to the community.

Designed to empower students, the club focuses on service projects, collaboration and developing character traits such as kindness, respect and integrity.

One Gateway Polytechnic Academy student shared that LOL club is “helping me grow as a leader by having me do stuff that I normally wouldn’t do,” according to a district press release.

During weekly meetings, students discuss leadership skills and plan upcoming projects before building connections through games and group discussions. Members describe the experience as both meaningful and fun.

“In the meetings, we usually talk about how to be a leader, and at the end we play games and talk about what we’re going to do next,” a student stated in the release.

These opportunities encourage students to step outside their comfort zones and learn what it means to lead by example.

Community service is at the heart of LOL Club. One project included a large-scale toy donation drive that collected more than 4,000 items for a local children’s center.

“It really made me understand that I should put people before myself,” another Gateway Polytechnic Academy student stated in the release, noting how these projects highlight the importance of helping those in need.

Looking ahead, members are excited about upcoming projects, including a donation drive benefiting animal shelters with items such as food and beds. The club also plans to expand student voice through participatory budgeting.