Variety and Value: Clubs at Albany Academy

Student content by: Kira Ostovar '25, Kyaw Lah Hsee '25, Xin Zhang '25

Albany Academy offers a variety of clubs, some of which have been around for several years and others that were established this past school year. There are clubs for every type of student, ranging from Key Club (Community Service Club) to Bible Club. Key Club is a perfect example of a club that has been at Albany Academy for many years, while Bible Club was just started this year by two students in the Class of 2025.

Key Club was started at Albany Academy in 2015 by Elina Daley, a former Albany Academy science teacher, and was later taken over by current club advisors Mrs. Bischoff and Mrs. Minissale in 2017. While Key Club has been around for almost ten years, this is the first year that the club is open to boys in grades 10–12, unlike in previous years when it was limited to girls in those grades. “It has been a great time having the boys involved because they have jumped in with different enthusiasm,” says Mrs. Minissale. Including boys has made Key Club one of the most popular clubs at Albany Academy, with around 70 active members.

Students involved in Key Club can participate in various events such as Red Bookshelf, Hunger Games, volunteering at the food bank, and working directly with the Albany VA and Ronald McDonald House. Hunger Games alone raised more than 5,000 pounds of goods this past year. Mrs. Minissale shared, “The mission of the club is to not only provide service to people in the community—whether the Albany Academy community or the Albany community in general—but also to expose students to service learning and hopefully inspire them to want to be involved in service learning when they leave us.”

Key Club is different from many other clubs because each member is required to complete a minimum of 20 hours of community service to be a part of the club. This allows every member to be actively involved without needing to hold a leadership position, ultimately setting it apart from other clubs.

Bible Club founder and president Johner Soe said he started the club because he relates to the story of Peter in the Bible, where Peter denies Jesus three times. Johner feels that he occasionally finds himself denying Jesus as well. He knew that some of his classmates were likely experiencing similar situations, so he decided to start Bible Club. By starting Bible Club, he hoped to foster a community of believers who would strengthen one another in their walk with Christ.

The club quickly gained significant support, with 70 people signing up and around 20 to 30 members actively attending meetings. The group has grown into a place of fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and discussion. It provides a safe environment where students can openly explore their faith, share their struggles, and encourage each other to live out their beliefs in daily life.

Bible Club is open to everyone at Albany Academy, an independent, non-sectarian school. “That’s why we named it Bible Club and not Christian Club,” says Johner, wanting to make sure that people didn’t get the wrong impression about the club. With a strong emphasis on inclusivity, Johner has made it clear that the club is not just for those who identify as Christian but for anyone curious about exploring their beliefs, learning about the Bible, and engaging in meaningful conversations about faith and life. The club has become a welcoming environment where students from all walks of life feel comfortable learning and exploring their faith.

Ultimately, clubs at Albany Academy provide students with many opportunities to try new things, meet others, and be involved in the community. Key Club allows students to be a part of a well-established, nationwide organization, while Bible Club shows how students can take the initiative to start new clubs that align with their passions. These unique aspects of Albany Academy contribute to its overall value.