Community: Flagship keeps students engaged

Volunteers head up Hellgate clubs

When Hellgate High School’s Flagship Youth Development Coordinator Niki Vanek transitioned from working with elementary students to working with teens, she knew it was the right move.

“I think I’m still kind of a teenager in my head,” says Vanek, laughing.

Though she started her work with Flagship years ago at Hawthorne Elementary, Vanek is now in her second year as the program’s coordinator at Hellgate – recruiting and supervising the community volunteers and students that run and participate in creative clubs during lunch and after school.

Keeping kids motivated and confident by channeling their interests, Flagship clubs at Hellgate include: Gladiators – a full-contact study in the art of medieval combat, Respect Club – which coordinates Diversity Week, and Elementary Buddies – who partner with students at Lowell Elementary to engage in community service projects and also implement programs they’re designing for the Missoula Children’s Museum.

Clubs are created by community volunteers or by students, as with the popular Gladiators.

“The student-driven clubs are the most successful,” says Vanek.

Volunteers for the program, which is based in 11 MCPS schools, apply through Flagship and undergo an interview and screening process as well as training sessions. The program served about 2,500 students last year.

At a glance, Vanek already has over 20 volunteers signed up to lead Hellgate’s Flagship clubs, which also include a graphic novel book club, knitting “Yarn Yetis”, yoga classes and a lunchtime anime club. Over 100 students are currently involved in clubs, and Vanek reports 285 students participated in Flagship activities last year and 53 volunteers completed nearly 780 hours of service in the program.

To keep students informed of offerings, Vanek visits classrooms, makes announcements and even uses Facebook to promote the program.

She says it’s great to see the students get involved in the school and channel their energy. Flagship even keeps some students coming back after graduation, as several Hellgate alumni have signed on to give back to their alma mater by volunteering for the program this year.

“I’m just so thankful to be in the school,” Vanek says. “I think it is important. Kids participate and I think it’s a really effective program.”