On May 5, Los Banos High School hosted its first-ever Freshman Club Rush. An event created specifically for incoming ninth graders to introduce them to the campus, the wide variety of clubs and organizations available to them.
This marked the first year that LBHS held such an event. Organized by the Class of 2026 counselor Alma Mejia and ASB advisor Frank Leonard. Students from Los Banos Junior High and Creekside Junior High were invited to the high school.
The day began with a rally hosted by the Associated Student Body (ASB) in the multi-purpose building. The event ran from 9 to 10:45 a.m., featuring a mix of performances, student speakers and time for students to visit booths from various clubs on campus.
“The main goal is to bring freshmen on campus and welcome students who are super nervous and don’t know what to expect. Club rush helps them see what kind of extracurricular activities they can be involved in,” said Mejia. “Introduce them to what to look forward to in high school.”
The event was designed to ease some of the anxiety that often comes with starting high school.
“Something I hope to gain from this experience is [that] students feel less anxious about coming to high school, and it gives them awareness of the resources we have here on campus, so when they come here, they’re not lost,” Mejia added.
Each club decorated its booths according to the event’s theme, “Survive Freshman Island,” which featured tropical décor, upbeat music and interactive games to encourage participation. Students had the opportunity to speak directly with current club members and learn about ways to get involved.
ASB student, junior Layla Navarro shared her thoughts on the event, saying, “The theme was Survive Freshman Island, so it was tropical, but club rush was fun. A lot of the kids were interacting with each other, and the clubs were asking a lot of questions and participating. One member from the Black Student Union had a dance battle with a student, so he got a sticker and candy.”
Overall, the event was considered a major success. It is likely to become an annual tradition aimed at helping future freshmen feel more confident and connected before their first day.
