A back-to-school tradition returns this week as BOHS’s ASB hosts 113 clubs — eclipsing 2022’s record of 102 — at the annual Club Rush event, which takes place in the quad from Sept. 17 to Sept. 20.
Club Rush is a four-day event designed to help students explore the many club options available, and to encourage them to engage and participate in the school community.
With a record-breaking amount of options this year — “due to people wanting to stand out more in their college applications,” according to ASB Clubs Commissioner Christine Kim (‘26) — Wildcats have an opportunity to join campus communities to bolster college apps, make new friends, and explore interests.
Pam Valenti, ASB Director, said that participating in clubs “gives a chance for [Wildcats] to connect on the school campus.”
To accommodate the many tables and the 224 representatives of the clubs, Club Rush is spread over four days: academic teams and clubs present on Sept. 17; hobby clubs present on Sept. 18; language, culture, and identity clubs present on Sept. 19; and service clubs present on Sept. 20.
On the academic-themed Tuesday, clubs like HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), STEMsters, Mock Trial, Stocks and Funds Club, Coding Club, and Academic Decathlon will recruit for new membership.
“There is so much potential in our student body and we hope that’s revealed through sign-ups and conversations at the Club Rush tables,” Lauren Ko (‘25), co-captain of Mock Trial, said.
For students looking to find fellow enjoyers of a favorite pastime, or to discover a brand new interest, 22 hobby clubs will have tables on Wednesday. Hobbies represented include baking, jumping rope, bowling, line dancing, scuba diving, surfing, e-sports, and spikeball.
On Thursday, foreign language clubs, such as the ASL Club and French Club, will have tables, treats, and informative posters on display. Students will also encounter cultural clubs, such as South Asian Heritage Club, Black Student Union (BSU), Japanese Culture Club, PinoyHalo, and Vietnamese Student Association.
Faith-based clubs — like Youth Alive Christian Club, Islamic Institute of Brea, Glory 2 God, and Church of Jesus Christ Club — will also have a number of tables and club leadership present.
On Thursday, the last day of Club Rush, students can explore an array of community service clubs. Cookies for Caregivers, Plushies With Purpose, Thrift Club, Surfriders, Music Healers, Medical Arts Club, Bead Buddies, American Cancer Society at BOHS, Cards for Kindness, HOPE (Help Our Planet Environment) Club, Math 4 Kids, Foster Love Club, HEART Club, and BOHS Project Blush are just some of the 48 service clubs represented.
“The kids hosting the tables always do a great job showcasing what we have to offer at school,” Valenti said.
Tiffany Jiang (‘26), president of Humane Society and Chinese Culture Club, urges students to join a club because by becoming a part of a community on campus students “get to meet new people, gain more experience, and explore new hobbies.”
To create a club, students had to fill out an application and draft a constitution about their club’s purpose. After submission of the application, the ASB Executive Board conducted weekly Wednesday business meetings during zero period to take votes to approve or reject the proposed clubs. Then, club presidents were instructed to submit a Club Rush video, Google Slides about their club, and advertisements.
Siwon Bae (‘26), president of Jump Rope Club and Peer-to-Peer Mental Health Initiative, said that Club Rush is “a fun way to be a part of campus life.” She is looking forward “to seeing the different types of ideas [of] the club leaders” during the four-day event.
Annika Castro (‘25), president of Brea Key Club and Brea Olinda STEMsters, hopes to “gain more members who will participate in volunteering events and division meetings.”
While the upcoming week is an exciting one, especially for the Class of 2028 who will experience the spectacle of Club Rush for the first time, Kim advises students to not “overwhelm [themselves] with the amount of clubs and focus on the ones [they’re] interested in and build off of that.”
“Put yourself out there and do what you want to do,” Kim recommended.
Correction: The original version of this story claimed the previous record of 102 clubs was set last year. In fact, the record was set in 2022.
