Psyched up for SSIKED

Multiple clubs at West have tried to promote diversity, but few have done it better than SSIKED (Successful Students Inspired through Knowledge, Education, and Diversity). They host a number of events, including the Diversity Dinner held Nov. 2.

The dinner boasted a variety of food and performances from different cultures. “Every year [Dr. Arganbright and Ms. Martin] wanted to have a get together for all the diverse culture of the student body, and where they would feel comfortable,” said Mayela Pelayo ‘18, the club president. “Not everybody has access to go to all the school events, and that’s also a part of the reason that they made [the dinner] free so that the low income barrier wouldn’t be a problem.”

Anna Truszkowski, ‘18 has attended the dinner multiple times. “It’s always fun to see all of the different people and all of the different cuisines here. I think it’s a really nice way to bring everyone in the school together,” said Truszkowski.

Former Principal Dr. Jerry Arganbright started the dinner over 20 years ago, but the SSIKED organization actually started in 2007 with the assistance of former Assistant Principal Francisco Pepin, Guidance Counselor Paul Breitbach, and Academic Dean Maria Martin. ¨I was determined to be the advisor, which I was very happy to do, so I’ve been very fortunate that I’ve been the one person in our staff that has been able to stay with them and work with them for the last 10 years and promoting these views and missions,” Martin said.

SSIKED started with the mission to challenge the data shown by the achievement gap. “Underrepresented populations don’t achieve academically at the same rate as the white populations, so we wanted to show them everybody does succeed in some way,” Martin said. “Not everybody will have an honors-level GPA, but at the same time that doesn’t mean people aren’t working for growth.”

Every Thursday after school, the organization meets to discuss the social and political issues within the community. They learn how to coordinate events and have two main focuses: supporting the mindset of nurturing the GPA across all of West, and to celebrate and raise awareness of diversity.

SSIKED members also plan an annual winter clothing drive where they coordinate with the school to gather clothing items that are donated to the DVIP shelter house (Domestic Violence Intervention Program) and UAY (United Action for Youth). This year, they decided to do a disaster relief drive for the significant damage done this hurricane season.

In addition, SSIKED participates in a Latino state history competition, which took place on Oct. 18 this year. There are six members per team, and each competitor is given their own chapter on a study guide to study. At the conference, there is a keynote speaker and workshops where you have the opportunity to communicate with others of the same interests. Also, at the end of the school year, SSIKED hosts the Academic Recognition Program where they provide certificates to underrepresented students based on how they identify themselves at registration. If students have a minimum GPA of 2.0 and improve it by at least 0.25 within a trimester, they receive a certificate, regardless of grade level. There is a keynote speaker and student performances as well.

In the past, there have been a variety of student groups charged with the responsibility of focusing on diversity, but they have had a short life span. SSIKED has sustained for ten years so far and has no plans of dismantling the organization anytime soon.¨I’ve always believed in what they’ve wanted to accomplish, and that is to highlight that we strive to succeed, and that we celebrate our accomplishments and differences and the contributions that diversity brings into a community like the one we have here at West High,” Martin said.

SSIKED has spread further than the West High community. They have worked with North Central Junior High to establish a SSIKED Junior. Some Liberty High students have created a diversity focused group at their school as well. ¨What SSIKED has done and continues to do impacts more than just those in our building,” Martin said.