Members of the Red Cross Club at the Inaugural Ball on Saturday
Four hundred forty-two people attended Inaugural Ball. But Red Cross Club received less than thirty dollars in donations.
According to teacher Suellen Roediger, the disappointing sales at Inaugural Ball were due to a lack of understanding and not a lack of interest. “Kids are givers,” she said. Many students agree with her that there wasn’t enough “advertisement and promotion” of this new club’s impressive efforts.
Founded by passionate junior Saradevi Thanikachalam, this club coordinates volunteer efforts with the American Red Cross chapter of Southern Arizona. Most recently, members have been collecting donations for victims of the recent earthquake in Haiti and have raised a “little over one hundred dollars” as estimated by junior Gaby Lacy. Their success can be attributed to their innovative selling strategies—students who donate a dollar or more receive a hand-made ribbon as thanks. Those interested in helping, or joining the UHS Red Cross Club, which meets Mondays after school T-11, should contact Saradevi Thanikachalam.
For those unfamiliar, Inaugural Ball was held this year on Saturday, February 6 at Savoy Opera House. This UHS tradition, meant to celebrate the end of the senior Mock Elections, serves as a place for all UHS kids to lose their TI-83’s, don glitzy garb and get down.
Freshman Jamie Vail explains “It was my first high school dance and I got to dress up. It was really fun.” Senior Julie Zhang, member of Student Activities Board (SAB) which organized the dance agreed. “A lot of people showed up. Music was great and there was a lively atmosphere.” Ms. Roediger attributes the tremendous attendance of this year’s dance to the fact that Inaugural was not held the Saturday after the Mock Elections– when seniors may still be exhausted. Indeed the night was a success in many ways.
