For the past four years Key Club Advisor Alicia Richhart and her Chick-Fil-Leadership Academy, which serves as an executive board for Key Club, have hosted a carnival that provides resources for parents of children with special needs. While the parents are talking to organizations about these resources, the members of the Leadership Academy play games with and monitor the kids.
However, this year was a little different because the Key Club worked in conjunction with the West Side Transition Council to throw this event. The Transition Council works to aid students with disabilities and their families in the transition from high school to adulthood. Special Education Teacher Joanna Miller was in charge of this part of the event and did an amazing job of making sure everything went smoothly on her end. This event had around 50 vendors that provided resources as well as breakout sessions on topics like financial and legal planning.
Typically the job of finding organizations that provide the resources to parents falls to the Key Club. Since the transition council was hosting their event in Mooresville they provided these resources and all the Key Club had to do was plan the carnival part and set it up.
“The carnival went off without any major issues. I am immensely proud of these kids and all the hard work they put into it. It takes dedication to take on a large task like this and they did a fantastic job,” Richhart said.
This task was not a small one even without the resources part of the carnival being included in planning. The Leadership Academy had a plethora of different games and activities that they put together for the kids to do. They had three bounce houses (including one for sensory needs), giant versions of table top games, an orbeez station, bracelet making, painting station and a concession stand. Along with these things Key Club also paid for outside vendors for participants to do like Silly Safaris and a photo booth.
Senior Alexis Weddle is the president of the Leadership Academy and has been a part of it since her freshman year.
“I think the carnival is an important event because it allows families with relatives with disabilities to explore opportunities in Indiana, while the relatives get to play games and make friends,” Weddle said.
This was the second year that the MHS Best Buddies had partnered with Key Club to host the fair. The Best Buddies helped with set up and tear down. They took upon hosting duties while the Key Club members were entertaining the kids. They worked the admissions table and roamed among the fair.
Senior Suzanna Paul is the president of Best Buddies. She has been a part of it since freshman year and has been a part of the Best Buddies leadership team for two years now.
“I got to hang out with my buddy Isaac. It was nice having the time to spend with him and we helped putting tables together. For the evening we worked side by side, we welcomed vendors and helped them set up their table. After that we spent the rest of the night welcoming guests,” Paul said.
