Although our country’s Constitution Day is celebrated on September 17, Lake Highland’s chapter of Rho Kappa hosted this year’s Constitution Day celebration on September 26, transforming the Lake Highland campus into a historical, fun, and student-led festival with various activities and stations. During this student-run celebration, students explored the displays, competed in trivia, decorated cookies, and so much more during Constitution Day-themed festivities. Students and faculty participated in fun, patriotic-themed activities that inspired patriotism while teaching our country’s history.
With last year’s success, more LHP clubs sponsored this year’s stations and activities. Communications Officer Maggie Hawkins, grade 12, worked with this year’s Fall Event Coordinator, Alice Wenrich, grade 12, to pair, “Rho Kappa and especially Constitution Day, which prides itself on being primarily member-run. With the help of our Fall Event Director, Alice Wenrich, members were able to help chair a booth that we had done in past years, or bring their own ideas to the table.” With Rho Kappa’s recent induction of new members, more students were able to participate in the organization of the event with the help of the club officers. “Our officers work hand in hand with all members to figure out how many volunteers they will need, supplies, signage, and any other materials they will need. Constitution Day is one of our biggest events all year, so every member is required to volunteer at a booth. This really helps to have everything run smoothly and efficiently. It also maintains our goal to be primarily student-run.”
At Lake Highland, Constitution Day is not exclusive to the History Department, but through the help of students and faculty sponsors, Constitution Day turned into a celebration full of learning and honoring our country’s history. With a variety of fun Constitution-themed activities, Communications Officer Magie Hawkins, grade 12, added, “With activities ranging from trivia to pickleball to Hamilton karaoke (a new one this year!!) all Lake Highland students find something fun to do that keeps them not only engaged during the long assembly time, but also to help inspire patriotism, a big aspect of the mission statement of Rho Kappa.”
With the expansion of this year’s celebration, students set up more events than ever, as well as giving students more chances to earn prizes at the prize station. Students could earn a stamp by completing a station, and once a student acquired five stamps, the student could take them to the prize station to cash in their prize. This year it was easier than ever to achieve this goal with this new and returning stations including: the prize booth (where students can cash in their punch cards), presidential relay race, Freedom to Read, Hall of Dreamers, Constitution trivia, Bingo, Cooking and Baking Club, cookie decorating, a watermelon eating contest, bracelet making, Jazz Band Ensemble, thank a Veteran cards, lawn games, pickleball, puzzles, coloring sheets, citizenship test, rights through the decades, pie in the face (hosted by Dance Marathon), and Hamilton karaoke and photo booth.
Although bringing the life of this historical celebration to school is one of the main goals of Rho Kappa members, Constitution Day is more than just an event. It is an opportunity to honor and highlight the significance of not just civic and American history, but also honor the bravery of those who helped make our constitution as well as our country. Not only are the activities like karaoke and cookie decorating fun, but they are also a great way for students to learn more about the Constitution and its history. Hawkins believes that, “Constitution Day is especially important to Rho Kappa as a whole because it is an overlooked day but so important to American history. It is a time where we are able to get our community together to celebrate the foundations of American democracy.”
Last year Maggie volunteered at a station. However, this year as Communications Officer, she helped coordinate the entire event with a student’s perspective, while instilling Rho Kappa’s mission statement. She said, “Rho Kappa stands as an organization at Lake Highland that wants to inspire patriotism and civic engagement. Constitution Day helps us do that in a fun way for all students.”
With brand new stations and fun activities, Rho Kappa brought Constitution Day and its history to life at Lake Highland, sparking civic pride and engagement across students and staff. There were also opportunities for students to run their own stations and create activities to help the entire student body engage in the importance of the Constitution. With the help of Rho Kappa and all of its members and sponsors, Constitution Day helped spark a wave of patriotism throughout the school and also made Constitution Day a highlight of Lake Highland’s academic festivities.
