Clubs and Activities | Emma Willard School in Troy, NY

Join the club!

One of the most exciting aspects about being a part of Emma is deciding where to get involved! Our inspiring environment will allow you to feel comfortable trying something new, or even starting a club of your own.

Clubs and activities are organized around common pursuits, such as music performance, Mock Trial, and Science Olympiad; creating products like the school newspaper The Clock or Triangle literary magazine; a common purpose, interest, or area of advocacy; or providing a particular service to the school, such as our student leaders, EMbassador tour guides, and peer tutors.

Explore a sampling of our clubs below!

Student Leadership

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Student Council

School Council is a group of student leaders who represent the student body. They listen to, and when possible, address student concerns and provide two-way communication between the student body and the school administration.

The council is made up of eight seats: two at-large members elected by the entire student body, a representative for each class, one wellness advocate, one proctor, and one international student representative.

School Council chooses a president among its members each fall. Other officers may be chosen at the same time. In the spring, elections for both class and at-large representatives are held for the following academic year.
Wellness Advocates

The Emma Wellness Advocates "Wellies" serve the entire Emma community to promote the practice of empowering students to live a healthy life. These students go through comprehensive and continuous training in consultation with the Health Center, READY Center, and the faculty/staff advisors. They work to promote the well-being of the community by developing creative and appropriate programming (such as workshops, outreach, and events) to support our students’ journeys towards making informed and healthy lifestyle choices. Students will gain an enhanced understanding of health and wellness topics and techniques for educating and engaging effectively with their community.
Proctors

Proctors are seniors who are chosen by the Director of Student Life and proctor advisors to lead, support, inspire, and guide the student body throughout the academic year. There are fifteen boarding proctors (one on each of our dormitory halls) and five day student proctors, all of whom undergo extensive training at the beginning of their senior year. From decorating their halls and day student lockers to interpreting and supporting school policies, proctors are an omnipresent force at Emma. Each boarding proctor works closely with her residential team, where she provides student feedback and helps establish appropriate support systems for the students on her hall. Day student proctors work closely with the Director of Student Life to ensure that day student needs receive appropriate attention and support.

Clubs & Activities

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Agonies

Agonies is an all senior selected comedy group. Their side-splitting performances put a smile on the faces of all that behold them!
Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a global movement of millions of people demanding human rights for all people.
Black and Latinx Student Union (BLSU)

The Black and Latinx Student Union (BLSU) club aims to bring issues faced by different minority groups to light through lively discussions and events, and by engaging with members of the Emma Willard School community.
Chess Club

Chess club provides a stress-free environment for people of all levels to have fun while improving their chess skills.
Choir

The Emma Willard School choir is open to any student who loves to express themselves through singing.
Democracy Matters

Democracy Matters is a non-partisan national organization that works to get big money out of politics and further democratize our political system. The club participates in discussions, hostss speakers, attends local marches, and speaks to representatives. Democracy Matters works to inform the student body about campaign finance reforms and how the issue transcends many social injustices that we fight today.
Dor Va Dor

Dor Va Dor aims to spread Jewish culture, through education and celebration.
EMbassadors (Tour Guides)

EMbassadors are Emma Willard School’s student tour guides. Come take a tour and learn about our school from those who know it best!
Emma Adventure

Emma Adventure organizes trips to local hiking areas such as the Adirondack and Catskills. We welcome both beginner and experienced hikers.
Emma Green

Emma Green, the school’s environmental club, works to educate itself as well as the greater community about environmental issues and ways to reduce negative environmental impacts. Club members also work with administrators to make the school more environmentally friendly, such as with composting and recycling initiatives.
Entrepreneur Club

Emma’s Entrepreneur club holds weekly seminar on topics of entrepreneurship and compete annually in the MIT Launch Competition and New York State High School Business Competition in small groups.
F-Word

The F-Word is Emma Willard School's feminist club, which aims to educate and engage the Emma community on the topic of intersectional feminism in order to contribute to positive world change through activism and social justice work.
Fair Trade

Emma Willard School was the first Fair Trade high school in the United States. Our Fair Trade club works to educate the community and each other about the ideals of Fair Trade. Through promotions and sales, they encourage conscious consumerism and advocate for sustainability, fair wages, and girls’ education worldwide.
Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools (FOCUS)

Emma’s Fellowship of Christians in Universities and Schools (FOCUS) is for anyone interested in learning about Christianity and exploring a life of faith.
Foreign and American Student Organization (FASO)

The Foreign and American Student Organization (FASO) promotes cultural awareness through games, discussions, presentations, campus dinners, and an annual expo.
Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA)

The Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) meets to discuss the current economy and learn skills to become successful in business. FBLA-hosted events include etiquette dinner, unique fundraising opportunities for charity, and speaking to successful companies and entrepreneurs.
Gargoyle (Yearbook)

Gargoyle, Emma’s yearbook, chronicles a single school year. Members of this club create the page layouts, write the stories, and capture the pictures for the yearbook.
Humaniteam (Humanities Tutors)

The Humaniteam is a group of peer tutors that assist students with their history or English needs and questions.
JSG and 12 Tones

Emma’s Junior Signing Group (JSG) and 12 Tones are groups of selected juniors and seniors who sing and perform a capella throughout the year.
Language Tutors

Language tutors assist their peers with their language learning needs.
Mathematics

Students have the opportunity to participate in recreational and competitive mathematics experiences. The New York State Math League is a 30-minute test offered six times a year, and we compete with schools from all over the state. The Albany Area Math Circle is a recreational mathematics group bringing together students who enjoy math from all over the Capital Region. You'll enjoy math explorations, collaborative work on competition-level problems, a chance to meet other math enthusiasts, and travel to competitions if you choose. We emphasize working together to solve problems that might be at the edge of what we can do on our own.
Mock Trial

Learn about the law while practicing and competing in a fun court case!
Model UN

Be a delegate of the United Nations and debate positions in different committees.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI@Emma)

As the first high school chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), NAMI@Emma aims to the stigma surrounding mental illness by raising awareness in the Emma community and engaging in activism off campus.
Orchestra

Share your talents on string, woodwind, brass, or percussion instruments in the Emma Willard School orchestra!
Phila

Phila, the school’s philanthropy club, serves as a student-run foundation where members interact with and distribute grants to local nonprofits according to a chosen focus.
Pride Alliance

Pride Alliance offers a safe space for all people of the Emma community to engage in understanding and awareness of LGBTQ+ topics and diversity within all people.
Primes (Math and Science Tutors)

Primes are student tutors who are willing to help every Emma student with their math and science learning.
Quiz Team

The Quiz Team is Emma’s academic trivia competition team. Each week they practice questions on topics ranging from the laws of thermodynamics to Lady Gaga. The team competes against other local high schools, in tournaments at nearby colleges, and on the national level.
Robotics

Members of the Robotics Club learn engineering and programming skills as they build competitive robots that compete in local VEX Robotics competitions. Each robot is created by a team of 3-4 students. We meet twice a week, in the evenings, year-round, for a minimum of 4 hours per week. During competition weeks we meet even longer. Auditions / tryouts / interviews for new members occur in the fall. All skill levels are welcome; we teach you skills during the audition process. Students should know that the time commitment can be intense and this activity cannot be combined with others that meet in the evening or have competitions on Saturdays, such as Mock Trial, Quiz Team or Debate.
Science Olympiad

Emma’s Science Olympiad team is a group of passionate learners who study various science topics, both textual and hands-on, and compete in the New York State Science Olympiad Competition.
Speech & Debate

The mission of Emma’s debate club is to educate, which includes flexing the muscles of critical thinking and logic, learning about debate techniques, and analyzing current events. The club also competes in regional competitions throughout the year.
Student Organization for Animal Respect (SOAR)

The Student Organization for Animal Respect (SOAR) advocates for the wellbeing of animals, while bringing awareness to the Emma community about the issues of maltreatment. SOAR organizes many events throughout the school year, from fundraising for animal rights organizations to volunteering at the local animal sanctuaries.
The Clock (Student Newspaper)

The Clock is Emma Willard School's printed news publication, which informs the Emma community about relevant news on campus, in the greater Capital Region, and in the world.
Triangle (Literary Magazine)

Triangle Literary Board is a club that is responsible for compiling literary works from the community into the annual art and literary magazine.