With a new year comes a new sponsor.  Change is upon the large, student-lead community service club, BHS knows as Key Club.  Key Club officers are busily readying registration forms while welcoming AP History teacher and Academic Decathlon mentor Mrs. Linda Smith as their new sponsor.

            “Mrs. Smith will do a great job guiding the officers and Key Clubbers through the 2010/2011 school year," Key Club Vice President junior Kayla Berger said.

            Mrs. Smith is certainly not new when it comes to giving back to her community.  From Louisiana to the Texas-Mexico border, she has blessed many in need.

            “I have personally been involved in community service most of my adult life,” Smith said. “I really want students to get involved because it is the right thing to do.”

            One of Mrs. Smith’s goals for this year’s Key Club is to show students the priceless life lessons attached to helping your community.

            “I hope to get students involved with Key Club projects by emphasizing the intrinsic value of helping others, as well as the comradeship that grows out of working together,” Smith said.

            Many students value these morals and embrace the desire to make a difference.

            “It (Key Club) gives me the satisfaction of knowing I made a difference when we complete a community service project, no matter how small,”long time member senior Brittney Adcock said.

            While Key Club revolves around giving to the community, it is also a gratifying personal experience for its members.

            “Key Club is a great organization,” Berger said. “It allows high school students to gain community service hours for college applications, make new friends, and get involved in school activities; all while helping families in the community.”

            Mrs. Smith is excited about this year’s Key Club as well as pleased with the student body’s willingness to participate.

            “How do I feel about Key Club?” Smith said, “Hopeful, encouraged, and proud that we have such a giving student body.”