kindness. The ECOT Gives Club, grounded in the fundamentals of philanthropy, was created this past year. Educators Kelly Dyer and Bryan Householder served as the club’s advisors. “We had WebEx meetings once a month and covered the following topics: animal rescue, bullying, homeless shelters, random acts of kindness, anxiety/depression, online charity work, and toy drives.” The club didn’t completely confine themselves to the computer. “We did take a field trip to a boarding, grooming, and rescue facility in the Columbus area, All Tails ‘R’ Waggin’ where the students learned about the world’s overpopulation of dogs and cats and what that means today,” she said. “Overall, the students were excited about learning and energized about making a difference in their community.” Another important aspect of contributing to society is protecting it. This was the basis for the Law & Law Enforcement Club, which had more than 60 members in its first year. “We explored different career options available to students in the field,” said advisor Caroline Adams. “Students researched areas of the law that interested them and gave presentations to fellow club members at our
meetings.” “We looked at how the court system works,” she added. “Students elected club officers. Jacob Hammond and Nicholaus Powers served as our co-presidents, Brittany Tucker was our vice president, and Tyler Freeman was secretary. These students assisted with club planning and logistics.” Another opportunity in the running for student participation is the ECOT Runners Club. “We had three 5k runs this year,” said advisor Richard Noble. “The goal of this club was to create awareness of the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle, allowing students to focus on health and wellness through staying active through making and attaining goals of walking, jogging, or running for fitness.” Those events were held in Dayton, Cleveland (Independence) and Columbus. Each event was for a local charity, with approximately 10-20 ECOT Runners attending each one. The club has more than 60 student members and 20 teachers involved, he said. These highlights only scratch the surface of all the clubs offered at ECOT. There’s more to come. Stay tuned.