Clubs are a vital part of Hackley’s intercampus community and its societal impact. It has been very well established that Hackley’s presence in the Westchester community and beyond has made a significant impact, whether it is through feeding Westchester’s homeless, deploying a task force with supplies for those in need, or helping stranded four-legged friends rehabilitate during this year’s horrendous hurricane season.
According to Mr. Arnold, “Clubs are a great place for students to form relations with new people; something that might be a shared interest helps encourage students to engage in the community.”
Clubs allow students to pursue their hobbies and interests with like-minded people, forging friendships that may not have otherwise been formed.
“[Clubs] impact the school community by improving the cohesion of the community and building collective confidence,” Mr. Arnold said.
With clubs as the backbone of Hackley’s cohesive community, it helps bolster school spirit and inclusivity amongst students to overall make the campus’s environment a more welcoming place.
Guiding Eyes for the Blind club leader Alessia Sorvillo said, “I feel like a big part of the Hackley experience is getting to make new friends and trying new things, and so I think clubs are a perfect opportunity to do so.”
A big part of cultivating a strong community on campus is how students are actively engaging in their community, trying new things, and meeting new people. For example, in the Guiding Eyes for the Blind club, students get to wash dogs in the Yorktown facility while doing hands-on work with peers, creating unique shared moments that will last a lifetime.
As for the effect outside of campus, club leader Addie Tepper sets a prime example of Hackley’s clubs and their community involvement through her outstanding work in Hackley Dog Club.
“By starting this club, I’ve created an easier way for students to volunteer with dogs. This greatly benefits both the dogs and the students. It also makes it easier for people to donate supplies and money as they don’t have to drive to the kennels,” Addie said.
Addie and club members have been doing continuous work to aid stray animals abandoned during the evacuation of Hurricane Helene and Milton through Hackley Dog Club. As a collective effort from the group, countless animals have been rescued and are benefiting from the generous donations.
Marcus Song has also set an example of Hackley’s worldwide impact through his new Micro Financing Club.
“So our club is Micro Financing through Kiva, and Micro Financing is where small loans are given out to people who aren’t able to use a traditional bank system because either they live in a third world country or they aren’t given access to a traditional bank.”
So far, the new micro-financing club has been focusing on small loans for struggling restaurants.
Hackley’s atmosphere is constantly affected by the connection between students and the school’s greater societal presence. It is now upon the classes of 2025-28 to cultivate this welcoming environment that nurtures both academic and character development.
