New Clubs Make Big Impacts

Gilman experienced a surge of new clubs during the 2023-2024 school year. One new club was the Ethics Club, founded by Peter Eiswert ‘25 and Neel Behari ‘25. The Ethics Club engages in a variety of argumentative debates centered around philosophy and morals. A round begins with the judge introducing the competitors to a case, questioning the moral integrity of a subject. Afterward, one of the sides presents a premeditated argument of five to six minutes addressing the question at hand. While the team gives their presentation, the opposing team takes down notes to comment on the argument. At last, the team gets to provide a rebuttal against the team’s comments to explain why they should win the debate. Compared to the Public Forum and Lincoln Douglass debate, the Ethics Club format emphasizes high school students’ developing moral and political views, beliefs, and judgments. 

 In its first regional competition, the Gilman Ethics Club placed first, winning over schools such as Bryn Mawr, Centennial, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Even with little to no experience, the club managed to earn a hard-earned victory. The team secured a win by engaging in discussions on thought-provoking resolutions, varying from dilemmas regarding credit for artificial intelligence to health concerns through vaccination. Their victory granted them a spot in the divisional playoff, where they met the Michigan state champions. Although they came up short in this second competition, the new team is rapidly moving up the ranks and is full of a lot of potential. So, Peter says, “If you want to beef up your philosophical skills and college resume, join the Ethics Club.”

Another new club is the Doughnation Club by Mathew Feola ‘25. He created it this year to spread awareness and raise donations for charities. Although club members introduce new ideas for raising money, this club is mainly a solo operation by Matt. Every morning, he purchases a dozen doughnuts, which he sells for $2 to the students of Gilman. These proceeds then go to various charities such as the St. Jude Research Hospital, Donald Bentley Food Pantry, and Paul’s Place. So far, the club has accumulated $2700 worth of profit in only one short school year. When asked about his motivation for selling doughnuts, he claims that his goal is “to do some good in the world.” Consider joining Matt next year to help his goal of spreading positivity.

Similar to the Doughnation Club, the new Alzheimer's Awareness Club offers a variety of snacks for sale. The club was founded by sophomore Max Shein ‘26. Their mission is to raise awareness of Alzheimer’s by educating students through fundraisers. Alzheimer’s Disease is not only a serious issue, but also more prevalent than many realize. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, one-third of older Americans die with dementia, surpassing the mortality rates of breast and prostate cancer. In order to raise money for the Alzheimer's Association, the club sells popcorn and other foods. Keep an eye out this upcoming fall, as they plan to organize volunteers for the Alzheimer’s Association’s annual “Walk to End Alzheimer.” Head on over to Max’s food cart and lend your support to those affected by Alzheimer's.

Gilman is witnessing new clubs, each driven by student passion and commitment. From the Ethics Club's regional victory to the Doughnation Club's and the Alzheimer's Awareness Club's fundraising efforts, these initiatives successively supported student engagement and social responsibility this year. With the experience of a successful freshman year, and the addition of members come fall, the sky is the limit for these exciting new clubs.