Pace offers many opportunities for students to share their passions and interests, one of which is community engagement clubs. Pace offers a multitude of community engagement clubs, and most students get to participate in at least one, however, fewer choose to lead or start their own club. Here are some clubs and leaders that are making a difference in the Pace and Atlanta Community.
Miracle Knights
Miracle Knights started in 2017 at Pace, has a long history of aiding and fundraising for Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA). The club is currently run by Seniors Reid Richardson and Oliva Nelson. The club has a large following and has raised over 11,000 dollars last year. This past semester the club has run a pickleball tournament and a fundraiser push bingo. Looking into the new year, the club is looking forward to its annual dance marathon and more fundraisers to aid the CHOA community. “I really love the club, and its an amazing cause. The Pace community is also so good at supporting us so that we can make a difference at CHOA and help kids all over Atlanta,” said Reid.
Glamour Gals
Glamour Gals was re-started at Pace in 2023 by sophomores Ava Grant and Caiylnn Bennet and is an outstanding club that fosters relationships between the elderly community and young adults. Glamour Gals Foundation is a national organization that has these same goals in mind. Club leader of Glamour Gals Ava Grant said “We re-started it at Pace because we saw it on a list of abandoned clubs, and we both thought why wouldn’t someone want to help and have fun with the senior community? So we decided to do it ourselves.” The club works closely with Corso Atlanta, a senior community living center, specifically with their memory care patients who may be struggling with dementia or Alzheimer’s. Ava says, “It’s not about them remembering the experience or giving us community engagement hours. It’s about giving them a few moments of companionship and joy in a really meaningful way.” The club meets a few times a semester and is an amazing experience for everyone involved. Going into the new year, the club plans on trying to visit Corso at least once a month and form a closer bond with the people there.
La Amistad
La Amistad is a club that coordinates with the La Amistad organization, whose goal is to prepare Latino children and families for success in and beyond the academic world. Pace sophomores, Lily and Paige Vadnais lead the club and strive to provide as much aid as they can. They help offer Pace students as volunteers for after-school tutoring at La Amistad. “I really love working with kids, and knowing I’m helping someone achieve their goals and bettering their lives makes me want to do it more,” said Paige. The club runs after-school tutoring wherever they can, and they send out emails in advance to get as many kids from Pace to participate as possible. Going into the new year, the club is focused on organizing more times to help tutor and forming a deeper connection with the La Amistad community to create a secure and fun environment for learning.
Knight Buddies
Knight Buddies is a unique Pace club that aims to create lasting friendships between the Pace community and kids with different physical and intellectual disabilities. The club was started in 2023 by junior Bobby Hanna, and co-leaders Grant Chase and Roan Dutta. The club focuses on creating said relationships within Atlanta, specifically with the Collective Learning Academy of Atlanta (CLA), with whom Knight Buddies is creating a budding relationship. Past events include a recent bake sale, hangouts at CLA, going to prom, and many more. Founder of Knight Buddies, Bobby Hanna says “Knight Buddies has been an eye-opening opportunity for me, and I’m happy that I’ve gotten to help the kids at CLA and Pace form bonds.” Going into the new year Knight Buddies plans on having many more hangouts, attending Pace sporting events, and going to prom again. “This club has a great future, and everyone involved gains something from participating, especially new friendships. I hope that even once I graduate it will continue on, because I have such a strong love for the kids and the community we’ve built,” said Bobby.