Link Crew members show  caring support to  incoming freshmen

Upperclassmen volunteers who serve as  Link Crew Leaders  Ashlin McKernan, Grace McLarty, Natalie Fry, Hazel Sackmaster, James Sackmaster, Kelsey Krohn, Harper Czizek, Samantha Guffey, Maddie Stahr, Malakhi Hilton and Quinn Wasko, and others  have committed to reaching out to other students as supportive mentors. 

The Link Crew framework at the school is a nationally recognized high school transition program which helps power HCHS’s SOAR program.  

The students in the SOAR,(Students Opportunity for Achieving Results) program  and the Link Crew work under the guidance and direction of advisor, and Assistant Principal Andrea Linder.

The SOAR program's mission  and focus is to help welcome freshmen and to support school activities, and has also been involved by organizing events such as Freshmen First Day.

Moving  this mission forward, Link Crew members use high energy team building strategies to lead campus tours, host a club and activity fair and create a welcoming atmosphere  for students attending HCHS for the first time. 

As a result of their caring ways Link Crew members  earned special recognition at the August 19  Board of Education meeting at Hononegah Community High School. 

Crew  members sported special bright pink t-shirts. HCHS Principal Chad Dougherty asked the crew to turn around to allow everyone to see the message on the back of the  shirts. 

Dougherty said, “What we need to know about these amazing people wearing these  shirts is that they have now  embraced the words,  “We are One Hononegah.” 

“Dougherty lauded, “This group of special individuals are our Link Crew. They were critical to making day one of the freshmen experience a successful one. 

They gave up time this summer, to  spend two days with Miss Linder to learn what it means to be a crew leader. 

In doing so everybody had to do all sorts of things that took them  outside of their comfort zone. Maybe they had to learn how to sing a song, dance in public, to talk to all kinds of people, even those who don’t really  want to talk to you, and to learn how to engage them.

Miss Linder got outside of the box of her comfort zone as well. 

Your modeling and her modeling has made a difference. Every single year this group has continued to grow and lead from a better perspective to make the experience more engaging.”

Dougherty added, “We did something today and I want to say thank you. 

“Normally the activity fair usually takes place in the middle of the Freshmen First Day. 

Today the Link Crew helped to ensure that every freshmen filled out a form to choose any activity or club they want to be a part of. 

That form was shared by Miss Linder with our District Administration Secretary, with all of our club sponsors. 

This is our effort to make sure that  HCHS our Athletic and Activities Director Andrew Walters can assure that 100 percent of the kids get involved. 

Miss Linder said, “These kids are so amazing,just seeing the  students in the hallway, waving to their leaders and they also  reach out and text each other. 

It is a really cool experience to see the freshmen light up when they see these students. It has been really great. They work so hard and they deserve all of the credit.”

Dougherty directed a message to the crew members,” You make a huge difference in what we strive for in the process of recognizing you here  at the conclusion of the school year,that a group of freshmen who didn’t know one another in their groups that have built a friendship, in such a way that they  feel they have always known one another. 

I am hoping that  you’ve had that kind of connection with the people that you’ve met even in your first days here. 

It is not an easy thing to do, this is a big school even for the kids coming from Roscoe or  Stephen Mack, this is a bigger place and you have made that transition so much easier and so much better.

It is my hope that you use this experience on your  applications  for college and jobs.”

Board of Education President Dave Kurlinkis presented all of the Link Crew and Miss Linder with certificates of appreciation. 

Year long student support is given as freshmen are able to stay connected with the SOAR and Link Crew students. They provide ongoing academic, social and career guidance during the school year. 

Mentors and freshmen can attend monthly SOAR  meetings to find greater insight. 

Extra opportunities are opened when mentors run interactive workshops covering practical life and high school skills. Students are able to learn about study strategies and time management, plus how to prepare for final exams. 

Navigating school events such as the Find your Fit College or the Career and Education Fair is also part of actions taken by these thoughtful students at HCHS!