HS students dive into passions at annual Club and Org Fair
One of USN’s beloved High School traditions returned to the school, with members of the High School community coming together on Friday, September 5, in Sperling Gym.
By Ian Dinkins, Assistant Director of Marketing and Communications
University School of Nashville was buzzing with possibility during this year's Club & Org Fair, where 36 clubs, 18 organizations, and eight affinity groups packed into the cheerful chaos of Sperling Gym on Friday, September 5. With nearly one club for every six students, the fair is an annual showcase and celebration of students’ initiative, identity, and invention.
“I cannot wait to see what 2025-2026 holds, which groups will take their turn being front and center at different points throughout the year,” said High School Dean of Student Life Justin Karpinos.
Behind every group at USN is a faculty sponsor who balances teaching duties with the equally important work of nurturing student passions. These mentors provide guidance, space, and structure, allowing student ideas to evolve from passing thoughts to sustained communities. And with financial backing from Student Council grants for groups that enhance student life, the infrastructure is there for clubs to thrive.
Among the new additions this year was Poems Against Silence, founded by Breckyn Forcey ’26. The club will bring a passion for poetry and activism to USN’s hallways, giving students a chance to explore the written word as a tool for expression and social impact.
Also making its debut during this year’s fair was the Spanish Media Club, which will introduce students to a litany of Spanish-language media and pop culture.
For students drawn to tech and tactile innovation, the Maker Club was hard to miss.
Dalton Dervan ’28 manned the table, enthusiastically recruiting students to join a community centered around 3D printers, laser engravers, and even protecting the forge on the fourth floor. With camaraderie and access to advanced machinery, the Maker Club aims to build both projects and friendships.
One of the clubs that has had a long history at USN, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, returned this year to recruit more members in the High School. This year, Lila Hemphill ’26 is heading up the group and planning fundraising events.
“These diseases are a big issue in the United States,” said Hemphill. “It’s important to raise awareness and money for this group throughout the year.”
Through events like lantern lightings and Homecoming boutonnière sales, the club is a great mix of community service and student engagement.
The fair also featured longtime favorites like the Cabbage Club, Board Game Club, and French Club, each offering its own quirky blend of connection and curiosity. Whether students had a passion for produce or strategy games, there was something for everyone.
In a school where students are encouraged to lead and experiment, the Club and Org Fair represents the best of USN. With more than 1,200 students at 2000 Edgehill, the interests of the student body vary, but the fair is a reminder that there is a place for all of those passions at the school, and there’s a good chance that there’s already a club for them.
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University School of Nashville was buzzing with possibility during this year's Club & Org Fair, where 36 clubs, 18 organizations, and eight affinity groups packed into the cheerful chaos of Sperling Gym on Friday, September 5. With nearly one club for every six students, the fair is an annual showcase and celebration of students’ initiative, identity, and invention.
There are a few differences between clubs, orgs, and affinity groups at USN.
Clubs are relatively easy to start at USN. Two or more students, a willing faculty sponsor, and completion of the online registration form are all it takes. The approach is to let lots of seeds be planted and see which ones sprout. Clubs need to re-register every year, and funds belonging to defunct clubs can be claimed by the Student Council and reallocated to groups that are active and vital.
Organizations, or Orgs, have proven their viability for two years and are more outward-facing and more missional than clubs. To run with the seed metaphor: if we’re waiting on clubs to bloom, the orgs are the ones that are rooted and are providing fruit, flowers, or shade to the community. While clubs may operate purely for the benefit or enjoyment of their members, orgs are charged with being visible and making an impact in the larger community, and also providing a clear succession plan for seniors to pass on the leadership responsibilities to future generations of leaders.
Affinity Groups operate under the umbrella of the Office of Diversity and Community and carry features of both clubs and orgs; they’re visible and cross-divisional in different ways than HS student-led orgs, of course, and essential to our mission.
Each year, the fair is filled with an abundance of tables and posters, with student leaders at each table making their best sales pitch, encouraging classmates to sign up for the various clubs offered at USN. There are a few usual suspects during the fair, such as Habitat for Humanity, the Quiz Bowl, and Zeitgeist; however, several new clubs and orgs were represented this year.
“I cannot wait to see what 2025-2026 holds, which groups will take their turn being front and center at different points throughout the year,” said High School Dean of Student Life Justin Karpinos.
Behind every group at USN is a faculty sponsor who balances teaching duties with the equally important work of nurturing student passions. These mentors provide guidance, space, and structure, allowing student ideas to evolve from passing thoughts to sustained communities. And with financial backing from Student Council grants for groups that enhance student life, the infrastructure is there for clubs to thrive.
Among the new additions this year was Poems Against Silence, founded by Breckyn Forcey ’26. The club will bring a passion for poetry and activism to USN’s hallways, giving students a chance to explore the written word as a tool for expression and social impact.
Also making its debut during this year’s fair was the Spanish Media Club, which will introduce students to a litany of Spanish-language media and pop culture.
For students drawn to tech and tactile innovation, the Maker Club was hard to miss.
Dalton Dervan ’28 manned the table, enthusiastically recruiting students to join a community centered around 3D printers, laser engravers, and even protecting the forge on the fourth floor. With camaraderie and access to advanced machinery, the Maker Club aims to build both projects and friendships.
One of the clubs that has had a long history at USN, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, returned this year to recruit more members in the High School. This year, Lila Hemphill ’26 is heading up the group and planning fundraising events.
“These diseases are a big issue in the United States,” said Hemphill. “It’s important to raise awareness and money for this group throughout the year.”
Through events like lantern lightings and Homecoming boutonnière sales, the club is a great mix of community service and student engagement.
The fair also featured longtime favorites like the Cabbage Club, Board Game Club, and French Club, each offering its own quirky blend of connection and curiosity. Whether students had a passion for produce or strategy games, there was something for everyone.
In a school where students are encouraged to lead and experiment, the Club and Org Fair represents the best of USN. With more than 1,200 students at 2000 Edgehill, the interests of the student body vary, but the fair is a reminder that there is a place for all of those passions at the school, and there’s a good chance that there’s already a club for them.
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Contact
Edgehill Campus
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
2000 Edgehill Ave.
Nashville, TN 37212
Phone: 615-321-8000
Fax: 615-321-0889
Email: info@usn.org
River Campus
1200 County Hospital Road
Nashville, TN 37218
USN Mission:
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.
University School of Nashville models the best educational practices. In an environment that represents the cultural and ethnic composition of Metropolitan Nashville, USN fosters each student’s intellectual, artistic, and athletic potential, valuing and inspiring integrity, creative expression, a love of learning, and the pursuit of excellence.