Jason Arndt, jarndt@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Members of the Shawano Community High School Culture Club prepare to serve Indian tacos Friday at the school. The sale is the primary fundraiser for the club, which works to promote diversity and understanding in the school.
Leader Photo by Jason Arndt Shawano Community High School senior Rashawn Bell, president of the school’s Culture Club, fries up a taco shell during the club’s Indian taco sale Friday. The sale is the club’s major fundraiser for the year.
Although more than 10 years old, the Shawano Community High School Culture Club remains as relevant as ever.
The club’s mission is to raise students’ awareness of diversity in the school district, community and world.
“We try to include all different types of cultures and we like to learn about each other’s cultures,” faculty adviser Melonie Dickie Reopelle said.
The club has grown from about a dozen student members five years ago to 30 this year. It is involved in community service projects with organizations such as Toys for Tots, Safe Haven emergency shelter and the Salvation Army.
The students last year participated in a culture awareness week at Olga Brener Intermediate School, where they educated the youngsters about Asian cultures.
“Most people think that the culture club is for Native Americans, but it is not necessarily for Native Americans,” said senior Tichanel Waupoose, vice president of the club. “We have people that are Mexican and Asian. You don’t have to be Native American to be in the club. We have had Caucasian kids join in.”
Sixth-grade English teacher Lela Schwitzer’s twin sons, Nicholas and Jacob, are involved in the organization.
“Culture Club promotes education and learning about different cultures,” Schwitzer said. “My sons have benefited from being with other kids as they celebrate diversity.”
The Schwitzers and fellow club members will tour the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh campus in March as part of the school’s multi-cultural preview day. Students will hear a guest speaker and meet other students.
“It is a great experience because some people don’t get to tour colleges and it gets them excited about their future,” Reopelle said.
Club members will also attend a Youth Conference on Domestic Violence, being organized by Menominee Tribal Police Chief Mark Waukau, in March in Keshena.
The club’s major fundraiser is the annual Indian taco sale, which was held Friday at the high school. Proceeds help fund workshops, educational trips and fun outings.
Last year, the club visited the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
“It was a long drive and a lot of fun,” club President Rashawn Bell said. “We do a lot of different cool things, and years before that we went to Brewers games.”