RD Athletic Hall of Fame Ms. Kirkby and Mr. Flanagan’s Athletic Careers Page 10
Causes of Concern for Kids
Pro-Sports Gambling
Perks of the Trade
Vaping, E-Bikes, and Beaty Products, Oh My! Page 5
A deep dive into the most relevant & recent scandals Page 9
Shcool to Work Redefining the Education Experience Page 6
The Ridellion December 2025 Vol LXIX Issue 1
Opening Doors For All Their Members: How Key Club Empowers Student Success by Delilah Recio, Ridellion Editor
[Key Club’s First Meeting of the Year! Pictured left to right: Camryn, Delilah, Dr. McNamara]
Key Club is an internationally recognized organization that provides leadership skills and character development through community service and involvement. The name originates from helping students “open doors” to making positive changes within their community through volunteer work. River Dell launched the club in 2024 with the Kiwanis of Pascack Valley as their sponsor.
The Kiwanis provide a foundation for key clubs by offering resources, guidance, mentorship and financial support through their adult volunteers. River Dell’s Key Club has participated in parades, food drives and STEAM fairs alongside the Kiwanis. In New Jersey, there are 21 divisions. Along with different schools in the area, River Dell is part of division
20. In addition to the Kiwanis service opportunities and school events, Key Club also takes part in divisional service events such as park cleaning. There are also annual initiatives for districts. In the past, our “Education is Key” project won an award at DECON, the annual gathering for NJ Key Clubbers to celebrate the end of a successful service year. The project consisted of multilingual story times, when student volunteers read books in different languages to kids in River Edge Public Library. This promoted cultural diversity and inclusivity for children from various backgrounds around the area and provided many opportunities for their volunteers to gain service hours. This year, their project is “combatting youth homelessness” to help young people who are experiencing housing instability. Camryn Cariaga, president of Key Club, shares the significance of the district’s pick for this
year’s project. “Although it may not seem like a visible issue in our community, [youth homelessness] exists all around us,” Cariaga states. “We are fortunate to live in a comfortable neighborhood, but unfortunately it makes it easy to overlook the struggles of others. By centering our volunteering towards efforts like these, we can raise awareness of issues that are often unnoticed and create change.” There will be upcoming fundraisers, donation drives, and seasonal events that’ll help members gain hands-on experience for the cause and help those that are less fortunate. One of the benefits of being a member of Key Club is that students can qualify for scholarships in their senior year to help with the mission of the organization. They ask for a $20 membership fee per student to promote project grants such as youth opportunities fund, qualify for scholarships, gain individual/club recognition in an international level, and being able to participate in dis-
trict events and conventions, such as ICON, DECON, and the Fall Rally. ICON is the largest annual gathering of Key Clubbers from all over the district to kick off a new school year of services; DECON, which was explained previously, recognizes the hard work of their members and gives districts the opportunity to gain awards and recognition. The Fall Rally is the largest annual gathering of Key Clubbers from all over the district to kick off a new school year of services at Great Adventure. This year’s officers are Camryn Cariaga as president, Delilah Recio as vice president, Ella Tu as secretary, Raye Jeong as treasurer, and Chloe Tsao as webmaster and editor. Dr. McNamara, AP Chem and SUPA Forensics Science teacher, is also new this year as teacher advisor. Make sure to follow Key Club on Instagram (rdhs. keyclub) to keep up with the latest news regarding school events and volunteer opportunities for this year’s district project!
HOBY: Invigorating Leadership In Club Spotlight: Debate RD Students Team Takes A Leap
By Sabrina Klein, Ridellion Reporter Leadership has always been a key component of River Dell’s core values. This year, River Dell will continue its tradition of sending two River Dell sophomores to the HOBY State Leadership Seminar to grow and practice their leadership skills. Over 50 students submitted applications this year to be considered for the prestigious program. HOBY, which stands for Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership, was founded in 1958 by Hugh O’Brian who was a famous actor who starred in a variety of western-style movies and television shows as early as the 1950s. Inspired by the work Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Albert Schweitzer, O’Brian used his star-power to bring high school sophomores with leadership potential together with business and education leaders to interact and grow together. The goal, of the HOBY Leadership Seminar,
which remains the same today, is to help young people, “think for themselves”. Tatum Leung, a senior here at River Dell who went to HOBY her sophomore year, stated, “Honestly, I was inclined to sign up for HOBY as a resume booster. But it turned out to be much more than that.” According to its 2023-2024 annual report HOBY has made a real impact. It has reached 7,135 student ambassadors, over 4000 school partners across 8 countries, and 49 US states. Over 90% of students agree that HOBY helps them become more confident leaders. Leung explained, “HOBY definitely impacted my time at River Dell by teaching me to be a better leader, not just for other people, but also as a self-advocate.” The three-day institute is designed to develop personal, group, and service leadership qualities for all students
by Kaileigh Taylor, Ridellion Reporter
who attend. Days include a variety of activities aimed at enhancing leadership skills and community engagement through group leadership exercises, personal leadership activities, and community service projects that foster collaboration and personal growth. Each day includes a mix of keynote speakers, group discussions, and social events, such as talent shows and game nights, to encourage networking and camaraderie. When asked about the best piece of advice she took away from HOBY, Leung stated, “HOBY taught me that you're never too young. Never too young to start that club, nonprofit, or business, never too young to cold call for an internship, or never too young to get involved with something you're interested in.”
The RDHS debate team is a fantastic way to develop skills in practically every area: from self-confidence and public speaking to collaborative research and leadership. Students join the club with many different goals, says Ms. Connolly, the advisor and Debate coach who has shaped River Dell into a formidable competitor for the past ten years. Many students just “want to
challenge themselves” and “like to argue,” but participating in debate is also “very impressive to have on your college resume,” especially if you want to become a lawyer, judge, or politician. So how does it all work? Each year, River Dell and other schools across Bergen County come together to argue a specified resolve for the season. This year, continued on page 7