By Emma Rosenbaum
Sports Editor
Mira Costa has a wide variety of clubs ranging from Baby Help Club to the Library Club to Glee Club, and the list keeps growing. A new club called the Black Scholars Union has been introduced to Costa and stands out among the rest.
The Black Scholars Union was founded by sophomore and current club president Rahje Branch, Vice Principal Jaime Mancilla and English teacher Deborah Hofreiter.
These three founders were devoted to creating a club designed not only to unite African-American students, but to also give them further opportunities to succeed academically.
“The Black Scholars Union is mainly a club to help African- American students pool their resources and efforts to make the most out of Costa.” Mancilla said. “It is aimed at providing tools and skills necessary to be more successful in school. In this way, students will have more at their own disposal.”
On Nov. 16, call slips went out to every Costa student that had an African-American background, requesting that they attend a meeting the following day in the auditorium. At this meeting, Mancilla and Branch demonstrated their vision for the club through a PowerPoint presentation.
Branch noticed that African- American students lacked a club. She saw this problem as an opportunity.
“I wanted to start it because I felt that African-American students at Costa needed to not only be united through color but united through intelligence,” Branch said. “Also, I feel that we need to make the best of every opportunity that we have at Costa.”
Although Mira Costa hadn’t had a club for African-American students in the past few years, a club called the Black Student Union did exist three years ago. The Black Student Union is a national club in thousands of other high schools and colleges but it dissipated at Mira Costa after only a few years.
“This club is in fact different from The Black Student Union that Costa has had before because this is aimed more toward the scholarly approach,” Branch said.
She said she does not want the club to be seen as just students at Costa, but rather as scholars who are achieving academic excellence at school.
“This club will hopefully have a long lasting effect on Costa for many generations to come,” Branch said.
Although the club had its first meeting on Nov. 17, students have already begun to recognize it for its unique differences from other clubs on campus.
“I’m really excited about what this new club is doing. I feel like it is doing something great for all of the black students at Costa. I look forward to being a part of it as I know other students do,” junior club member Kyle Hubbard said.
With student recognition, the Black Scholars Union is beginning with a positive start. Over 10 teachers have volunteered to help the club reach its goals and assist in any ways possible. One of these goals would be to raise funds for trips to visit colleges.
“I’m hoping that through this Union we will increase our involvement at Costa and raise cultural awareness,” Branch said.
In addition to the creation of a Black Scholars Union Club this school year, students are working to create a similar type of club with the same goals for Latino students at Costa.
“We planned for the Latino Scholars Union to help inspire Latino students to take advantage of the many opportunities that are offered here at Costa and to embrace their cultures,” co-president Victoria Torres said.
Mancilla had originally planned on such a club at the time when he was also deciding on the Black Scholars Union. The first meeting for the Latino Scholars Union will be held in the coming weeks.
“I really feel that being involved in such a club [Latino Scholars Union] will help me in a lot of ways. Being a part of this club is important to me,” junior Michael Diaz said.
Both clubs aim high for their particiapnts and plan for success.
“By creating these clubs, students are empowering themselves with knowledge, especially about college,” Branch said.
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