The National Honor Society (NHS) President, William Qian, shared his thoughts and plans for the upcoming school year in a recent interview. With a new sponsor and a commitment to community engagement, Coronado NHS is set for a promising year.
As the school year begins, club members are eager to see how the organization will change under the influence of their new sponsor, Ms. Molly Butler.
When prompted about why she decided to become the new sponsor, Ms. Butler hinted her decision wasn’t influenced by her personal interests, but rather her desire to help her students.
“I know the club was really desperate for a sponsor and I know a lot of students in NHS. Some were my former students; some are my current and they were really upset they wouldn’t have a sponsor. So, I decided to step up for them because they’re worth it. It’s not for me, it’s for the students.” she said.
When Qian was asked about his feelings towards Ms. Butler taking on the role of sponsor, Qian expressed enthusiasm and a sense of familiarity.
“I love Mrs. Butler; she was my teacher last year for US History, so I already have a good relationship with her, and I think she holds us responsible, which is good.” Qian said.
This positive relationship with the new sponsor only contributes to a smooth transition for the club.
Regarding the potential changes Ms. Butler might introduce, Qian firmly believed they would be beneficial. He noted his appreciation for Ms. Duckett, the previous sponsor, but felt that the new direction with Ms. Butler would be a positive one.
“I think I just feel more familiar with Ms. Butler, like I’ve worked more with her,” Qian said.
Goals for the club according to Ms. Butler are focused towards expanding the clubs influence over the community.
“Right now, the goals for me are to figure out how to perform my role. For the club we’re looking to improve how much we get involved in the community, we’re looking to donate more to different organizations around the city. The big thing we do every year is the Rockathon, so we can raise money for organizations throughout El Paso.” Ms. Butler said.
As far as plans for the new year, Qian explained he plans on continuing the ongoing projects NHS participates in annually.
“The thing with NHS is we have these annual projects where each year we have 9-10 projects we do,” Qian said. “I’m planning on staying consistent with those projects, but other than that, I guess working more with other schools like Franklin or El Paso High.” Qian added.
One of the more notable annual projects Qian mentioned for the club is the buddy walk organized in collaboration with the El Paso Community Foundation. The event’s goal is to raise awareness for Autism, by having participants walk around the El Paso Community College campus. Qian explained that this project is an excellent way to engage students with the community.
Many people were concerned about the absence of a meeting for the month of August, but Qian remains confident that they will catch up. While he did acknowledge that it would require the group to pick up in pace. He believes the situation is recoverable by a makeup meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 11th.
“Some people might have trouble getting hours in, but it shouldn’t be an issue.” Qian said.
He also explained that getting dues in may be another minor problem but will also be easily addressable.
Additionally, because the club aims to provide community service and extracurricular hours to it’s members, Ms. Butler is planning to expand its positive influence on members and the community.
“I hope to keep the club up and running, and I hope to as much as possible emulate what has been done in the previous years because Ms. Duckett set a really high standard for the club. Keeping those standards and implementing a couple of new things the officers want to impose.” She said.
Coronado’s National Honor Society, under the leadership of President William Qian, should look forward to an exciting and productive year. With a new sponsor and a drive for community engagement expressed through their annual projects, the NHS members are set to make a positive impact both within their school and in the El Paso community.
