As the 2024-2025 school year comes to a close, many clubs and teams are already looking to what lies ahead. Panther Crew has started the recruitment process to build their team for the upcoming semester. Panther Crew is a club made up of about seventy juniors and seniors who serve as the face of the student body. These students help freshmen get acclimated to the high school environment, give tours to new students, and volunteer countless hours of their time towards serving the community.
Panther Crew members have the opportunity to serve in a variety of projects and fundraisers, one of which is running the weekly Dirty Soda Bar. Annie Alvo (11), a leader of Panther Crew explains what the Dirty Soda Bar looked like this year.
“The Dirty Soda Bar was a big hit this year. We made seasonal and original beverages to sell during school and school sporting events. Every Friday, Panther Crew has a pop-up shop during the lunches for students to purchase refreshing drinks,” Alvo said.
Another big responsibility for Panther Crew members is ensuring all students at Lenoir City High School feel welcome. The leaders typically guide upcoming freshmen and other new students around the school. Lily Rich (11) shares why leading tours has been important to her.
“I love touring students around the school because I get to meet the new people coming into our school and have the opportunity to make them feel welcome. It is important for Panther Crew to help freshmen and new students because it helps them adapt to their new school and make them feel more welcomed and comfortable,” Rich said.
These are only a few examples of what Panther Crew does for our school. Over the next few weeks, sophomores and juniors will begin interviewing to be in Panther Crew for the 2025-2026 school year. In this process, students will sit down in front of a panel of current Panther Crew members and teachers to answer questions about themselves and their reasons for applying to the club. Annie Alvo (11) gives a word of advice for those preparing to be interviewed.
“The process to get into Panther Crew is to answer questions about yourself and discuss your high school career so far. The purpose of the interview is to determine one’s confidence, public speaking skills, and get to know you better. My piece of advice during an interview for Panther Crew is to be self-confident and be positive in yourself. Engaging in conversations and doing anything possible to make an impact on the counselors and instructors is the best tactic. I asked questions back to my interviewer to further and deepen the conversation,” Alvo said.
Panther Crew members work to uphold standards of integrity, empathy, respect, and positivity. They are great at communicating, leading others, and being a friend to those around them. Panther Crew gives upperclassmen a chance to connect with the underclassmen and be an encouraging mentor to any new student in the school. As the club continues to thrive, this year’s students leave a lasting impact on Lenoir City High School, creating an environment where students feel supported and connected. With the recruitment process underway, the future of Panther Crew looks bright as new members prepare to carry on the club’s legacy of leadership and service.
