The James Logan Courier

By Karen Mui, Courier Staff Writer

Though it is well into a new school year, the clubs of James Logan continue to demonstrate their willingness to aid in charities and events in order to better the community.

As a prime example, the Logan M.E.Ch.A. club, an organization to help further the inclusion of Latino culture and history in school settings, is doing its part. M.E.Ch.A. is an acronym for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan Instead of an individual event, the club has started a year‑round recycling event in order to raise money for various causes.

As a result of the club’s encouragement, some teachers have placed recycling bins in their classrooms, in hopes to support both the proper care of recyclable items, as well as M.E.Ch.A.’s cause to raise money. Every Thursday, M.E.Ch.A. organizers collect the items from the bins and bring them to Rm.413 where they are sorted and distributed to the recycling centers for proceeds.

The proceeds from this event go to a scholarship fund intended for students at our school. Students who apply and win the scholarships will be awarded $200 and honored during the annual RAZA graduation ceremony held for outstanding students at the end of the school year. Depending on the amount of money raised by the recycling event, there are usually 7‑10 scholarships available through the fund.

Last year, there were a total of 1,500 dollars worth of scholarship money. 900 of these dollars, alone, were from the recycling event. Gloria Nunez, one of the supervisors for the M.E.Ch.A. club, replies. “We are still new to the idea of awarding scholarships, having only started the whole process last year. Hopefully, we can raise more money and award more scholarships this year.”

In addition to the scholarship fund, money raised during the on‑going recycling event has been used to buy presents and gift cards to needy families in the surrounding neighborhoods during the Christmas season. A portion of the proceeds are also distributed into the M.E.Ch.A. club itself, to help with the various activities the club holds during the school year.

As an encouragement, Nunez responds simply. “We just want students to put their used aluminum and plastic containers into specified bins. It’s a very effortless process to help others as well as the environment, so we’re hoping for a lot of participation from Logan students.”