Wellesley High’s annual Club Fair took place last Wednesday and Thursday, Sept. 24 and 25, during lunch periods and before and after school. With 68 clubs and organizations on display, the fair offered students a broad range of extracurricular opportunities, reflecting the school’s commitment to student involvement beyond the classroom.

Club fairs often serve as a gauge of school culture, capturing the interests, ideas, and passions of its students. At Wellesley High, clubs encourage students to connect with peers, explore new interests, and feel a stronger sense of belonging within the school community.

The event is planned and organized by Assistant Principal Colin Shattuck, in collaboration with Student Congress, one of the many participating clubs. Student Congress handles the layout of the cafeteria and coordinates logistics, including where each club is positioned, which ensures a smooth flow of students between booths. 

Student Congress members Alex Budson McQuilkin and Vibha Thirumale, pictured below, were among the many helping hands behind the scenes.

By reflecting student interests, the Club Fair also mirrors broader trends within the school community. The club landscape at Wellesley High School remains dynamic, with approximately ten new organizations forming each year while about ten others end as senior leadership graduates.

This year’s fair introduced several new clubs, including HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America), Philosophy Club, and Dream Journal Club.

This natural cycle of new and concluding clubs ensures a steady flow of fresh perspectives while preserving institutional knowledge. Meeting schedules vary to accommodate student availability and preferences. Some clubs meet after school, others in the evenings or on weekends, with many offering flexible combinations.

According to Alex Budson McQuilkin, one of the Student Congress organizers, club leaders are consistently cooperative and easy to work with throughout the fair’s planning and setup.

The fair operates on a simple but effective model: each participating club brings sign-up sheets, eye-catching posters, and often candy or other small incentives to draw in potential members. Every club and activity is free to join, and each is supported by a faculty advisor who helps supervise and guide the organization.

Students often describe the event as a chance to explore what their peers care about and, in many cases, to form friendships.

“Finding someone who shares a unique passion helps others feel as if they belong,” one participant said.

Notable Clubs

Translation Club

Supporting the wider Wellesley community, this club translates documents from English into Spanish, Chinese, Korean, French, and Turkish. Students apply their language skills in practical ways, translating flyers, event notices, and public announcements.

Science Olympiad

Competing in monthly meets through the Western Suburban Science League, the Science Team participates in 23 events covering five academic categories, from Earth Science to Engineering. The team emphasizes collaboration, problem-solving, and inclusion, welcoming all students in grades 9–12.

Model United Nations

MUN encourages students to consider complex global issues through the lens of diplomacy and international relations. Members attend one to two conferences per year and collaborate with peers from across the region to address timely challenges.

Wellesley Academic Decathlon

Open to students of all GPA levels, this academic team studies a broad set of subjects tied to a central theme each year. Weekly meetings prepare students for local and state competitions that include exams, speeches, and interviews, fostering both content mastery and public speaking.

Wellesley High Club Fair participants

Article written by Maya Hazarika, Wellesley High Class of 2028

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