As you walk through the halls of Nazareth Academy, you’ll notice posters and signs promoting a variety of opportunities for student involvement. Whether it’s club meetings, Campus Ministry happenings or other extracurricular activities, there is always some way for students to become involved in the wider school community.

According to the National Library of Medicine website, involvement at school brings multiple benefits, such as helping adolescents maintain existing friendships and develop new ones. In other words, school involvement helps create unity within the student body and strengthens students’ sense of belonging.

At Naz, there are many ways to be involved. Take a football game, for example: At a game, you will find not only the football team, but also members of Color Guard, the band, the Cheer and Poms teams, the Freddie Fanatics and a wide variety of students. Students of different ages, backgrounds, interests and talents all come together for a common purpose.

Director of Student Activities Meg Gardner said, “When students are connected or they feel like they have found a group to be part of, that just improves their entire high school experience from start to finish.” Gardner also believes that Naz has done a great job educating the whole person and that the school offers multiple opportunities to be involved.

Likewise, Campus Minister Janet Rausch believes that her department is “a good extension of the Naz theology department.” Rausch said that getting involved in Campus Ministry and attending retreats is a great opportunity for students to “get away from everything and get to know classmates more and build those relationships.”

She also mentioned the Congregation of St. Joseph (CSJ) mission “that all may be one,” which she believes contributes to the environment of involvement at school. She hopes that students know that Campus Ministry is an open-door space and that in that space, there’s something for everyone.

Athletic Director Denise Kavanaugh similarly believes that there is something for everyone in the athletic department. She said that for some sports, you have to try out and have prior experience, but other sports are open to those who are completely new. Rather, students simply learn through practice. She also mentions that sports unite freshmen as well as upperclassmen.

Student involvement, whether in extracurriculars, Campus Ministry or sports, brings students closer together. Students recognize and value the opportunities they have to make connections with one another, too.

Sophomore Claire Scovitch is involved in multiple clubs such as Student Council, Youth Initiative and Freddie Fanatics. She believes that through clubs people can get to know each other and their teachers better. Scovitch encourages students to “take the risk and take a friend to a new club.” Scovitch also said, “Naz does a really good job at making everyone feel welcome and brave enough to join something.”

Similarly, Senior Sophia Anderson is very involved in Campus Ministry, having volunteered and attended FISH Prom and Kairos. She believes that Campus Ministry has helped increase her faith because she was able to find her own way with it. Anderson said, “Campus ministry provides many special experiences and combines a lot of service and faith.” She said that she plans to be involved in similar activities even after she graduates.

Another Senior, Eddie Austin, is very involved in football and basketball and has been throughout all four years of high school. He believes that through sports “the most amazing memories have been built and so much has been taught.” Austin mentioned that because of sports, he has been able to learn what brotherhood, discipline and respect mean. He said, “It’s never about the outcome, it’s about the input.”

It is clear that students’ overall high school experience is improved and that bonds, experiences, friendships and lasting memories are created through their openness to become involved in all that Nazareth has to offer. Extracurricular involvement helps many students unite, find and deepen friendships, and create memories that will last a lifetime.