Clubs

Appleton West Climbing Club
Our climbing team follows five core values: skill improvement, physical fitness, social and emotional well-being, competitive experience, and personal growth. We will strive to provide structured training, quality instruction, and technical climbing skill refinement. Contact: Chris Straton

Appleton West Drama Club
West Drama offers students a platform to develop confidence and effective communication skills through theatrical activities, enriching their personal growth and academic success. It also fosters creativity and teamwork, contributing to a well-rounded educational experience. It gives those who may not make the mainstage shows some additional opportunities. Contact: Rebecca Whittle

Appleton West Powerlifting
Our club is committed to fostering strength, discipline, and perseverance through the sport of powerlifting. We strive to develop student-athletes by promoting hard work, sportsmanship, and personal growth. Through dedication, community support, and a commitment to excellence, we aim to build confidence, resilience, and lifelong skills that extend beyond competition. Contact: Brandon Barker & Stephanie Gallagher

Appleton LaCrosse Club
Appleton North is the host school for this club. The Appleton Lacrosse Club is an organization made up of student-athletes from the three Appleton Area School District High Schools. As a fully self-funded club, all costs are covered through player dues, sponsorships, and fundraising. Lacrosse is a spring sport played from March - mid-June. For more information, visit the club's website.

Better Man Project
The Better Man project is a brotherhood committed to growth, respect and responsibility. We strive to build character, make positive choices and contribute meaningfully to our school and community. Our goal is to empower young men to become leaders who value integrity, empathy and resilience, becoming the best version of themselves while uplifting those around them. Contact: Jay Coonen, Will Xiong, Parker Rudie

Book Club
Students who enjoy reading are encouraged to participate in West's Book Club. We read and discuss approximately five books during the school year. Our book club members determine the titles we read, and members have about a month to read the book before our meeting. Members get to keep many of the books we read! Meetings are determined based on members' schedules and availability. Contact: Amy Pritzl

Bowling Club
Participation costs are $70.00 registration fee and the cost of the uniform. Benefits include coaching, practice, separate boys and girls divisions, a minimum of 10 matches, possible qualification for state tournament. Contact: Julie Clemins

Chess Club
Meet to play chess with a diverse group of students. Contact: Katherine Kinzenbaw

Close Knit Crew
The purpose of this club is to connect through needlework and yarn-based crafts, and to build awareness and traditions around this type of crafting as well as introduce new skills and even discuss using needlework as a type of positive coping strategy. Students are encouraged to further share how needlework or similar traditions are a part of their family or culture. Contact: Wendy Falk & Lynn Schadrie

DECA
DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality, and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. DECA provides opportunities for: competition, business knowledge, interview practice, advice on speaking and test-taking, community service, travel and fun! Contact: Courtney Pierce

Discovery Corps
The goal of Discovery Corps is to build a culture where students are heard and inspired to live in hope. Interested students apply at the beginning of the school year and attend a required training where they will learn how to use and build tools to help make Appleton West High School a place where students can speak with their peers about things going on in their lives. Discovery Corps is a training unlike any other where students become peer coaches, not therapists, empowered to help each other. Contact: Alyssa Arnold & Katie Trcka

For All Students (FAS)
Our club creates a safe and inclusive space where students build leadership, unity, and positive impact in West and the community. Contact: Dr. Kempton Freeman (Coach K)

Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA)
Fellowship of Christian Athletes is an international Christian organization that seeks to engage and equip coaches and students.  Although in name, this club is for athletes, it is open to any interested students.  Our goal is to provide a like-minded community for students across different athletic disciplines to get to know one another, to develop in leadership, to grow in their faith, and to carry that faith onto the field.  Part of the mission of FCA is to have its members serve as leaders on their teams, providing a positive influence among their teammates and assisting their coaches in training up student athletes with strong character who are able to succeed both on and off the field. Contact: Autumn Meyers & Jennifer Berndt

Forensics
The Appleton West Speech and Forensics Team competes against other schools from across the state. Contestants select an event and prepare a piece to use in competition. One participates as an individual or as part of a group. Competition involves informative speech, persuasive speech, poetry reading, prose reading, radio broadcasting and dramatic or humorous monologue performances, as well as others. Appleton West is a member of the Wisconsin High School Forensic Association, and team members are motivated to qualify for the State Tournament at the UW-Madison. The team also is a member of national organizations and contestants could qualify for trips to Sacramento, Washington D.C., Ft. Lauderdale, or Memphis. The season begins in January and is completed in April. Contact: Shannon Lang & Mark Cross

Garden & Environmental Club
A service group that is dedicated to helping maintain the courtyard and flowerbeds on campus. In addition, members maintain the LMC plants, learn to plant vegetable and flower seeds and cuttings for our annual Mother’s Day Plant Sale and do the shopping and wrapping for those less fortunate Adopt-a-Family candidates. Meetings are during flex on the third Wednesday of the month (or see Mrs. Vanderloop in room 357). Contact: Kathy Vanderloop and Lynn Schadrie

Girls Flag Football
Girls' flag football is the fastest-growing sport in America and around the world. 2025 was the inaugural year for the Appleton West Girls Flag Football team to create additional opportunities for girls to compete in athletics. Girls' flag football is now a collegiate sport with numerous schools offering financial support to student-athletes. Girls' flag football will be an Olympic sport in 2028. Contact: Nick Schultek & Nikki Streck

History Club
History is fun! Let’s get out and “do” history as much as possible. We try to connect your history class with our local, state, and national history. We take biking and walking tours, watch movies and get to hear stories directly from the people who experienced it. Meetings announced on Google Classroom.
Contact: Dave Babcock & Shaya O-V

HOSA
HOSA is a unique program of leadership, development, motivation, and recognition exclusively for students enrolled in Health Science Programs. HOSA Mission: “The mission of HOSA is to enhance the delivery of compassionate, quality health care by providing opportunities for knowledge, skill and leadership development of all health science education students, therefore, helping the student meet the needs of the health care community.” Contact: Rosamond Shulfer

International Club
International Club is a group that learns about other cultures, through food, games, crafts, and guest speakers. Our club members share ramen noodles with Japanese students from Lawrence University, have a gingerbread man decorating contest, and make crepes for Mardi Gras. We also welcome exchange students to West and learn about the cultures of our international students.
Contact: Angie Bruner

Key Club
Vision: We are caring and competent servant leaders transforming communities worldwide. Mission: An international, student-led organization providing its members with opportunities to perform service, build character, and develop leadership. Advisor: Jessica Lindsay

Math Team
Attend whenever you can! The meets are a lot of fun. We usually stop somewhere on the way to eat. We meet on Wednesdays during Flex in room 121. Meets are usually the first Monday of each month. Contact: Austin Herman & Steve Franklin

Mock Trial
Mock Trial is an activity that runs from late October - February. A case is designed by the Wisconsin State Bar that students will play either witnesses or lawyers on one side of the case. Students work together to develop their direct and cross-examination questions so they can compete against other teams at the regional competition. Meetings are on Tuesday from 4-5:00 approx. at Appleton West High School in room 251. Contact: Sandie Martin & Abby Karrels

National Honor Society (NHS) 
The purpose of the Appleton West Chapter of the National Honor Society is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to serve, to promote leadership, and to develop character in the students of Appleton West High School.  These four principles shape the organization's activities and are reflected in the members' responsibilities. Contact: Kathy Vanderloop

Patterns of Stardust
PATTERNS OF STARDUST has been Appleton High School's Literary Magazine since 1918. It is an organization for those who are interested in writing and editing for publication. Meetings are held after school on Tuesdays in Room 246 starting in the second semester. Contact: Katherine Kinzenbaw

Pickleball Club
Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports nationwide and is accessible to students of all skill levels. It provides an inclusive environment where students can improve cardiovascular fitness, hand-eye coordination, and strategic thinking while also learning sportsmanship and collaboration. The club reinforces AASD’s focus on the whole student by promoting physical, social and emotional well-being.  Contact: Nikki Streck

Racecar Testing Team
Design and build Formula One-style vehicles. Contact: Carrie Glauque

Rights For All
Awareness, activism, and allyship to create safe spaces and inclusion for all students. Contact: Cassandra Lichttenegger & Moriah Hunt

Science Team
The Science Team has two competitions a year. The National Science Bowl is a competition that covers all science topics and math. The Lake Sturgeon Bowl focuses on oceanography. Practices are usually once a week and run from October to April. Tuesdays after school. Contact: Steve Franklin

Seven Generations Club
This club will serve to create a community and sense of belonging in school and beyond, increase cultural awareness of native culture and history, and provide cultural enrichment opportunities. Contact: Shelby Siebers

Skills USA (VICA)
Skills USA empowers its members to become world-class workers, leaders and responsible American citizens. We improve the quality of our nation’s future skilled workforce through the development of SkillsUSA Framework skills that include personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Our vision is to produce the most highly skilled workforce in the world, providing every member the opportunity for career success. Contact: Carrie Glauque

Sources of Strength
Sources of Strength is a strength-based, comprehensive wellness program that focuses on suicide prevention but impacts other issues such as substance abuse and violence. The program is based on a relational connections model that uses teams of Peer Leaders mentored by Adult Advisors to change peer social norms about help seeking and encourages students to individually assess and develop strengths in their life. Sources of Strength is most often implemented as a school-based program in middle school, high school, or college. However, Sources of Strength is also often used in community, faith-based, and cultural settings. It promotes and focuses on connectivity, school bonding, peer-adult partnerships, and help seeking behaviors. Contacts: Moriah Hunt, Lisa Groff, Jamie Vander Heiden, Joe Schultz, Joanna Dane, Heather Delveaux, Lori Koehler, Radoslav Wilke

SPARK
Help students find ways to improve their mental health in our community. Contact: Parker Rudie

Student-Athlete Leadership Team (SALT)
The purpose of Appleton West High School's Student-Athlete Leadership Team is to foster student leadership by making great choices for the mind, body, school, and community. As a student-led group, their mission is to help themselves and their peers reach their full potential. Contact: Nikki Streck, Joe Heiser, Brenna Lara, Jay Coonen

Student Council
The mission of the Appleton West High School Council is to build responsible leaders within our school community and promote the values that represent good character in all students. We meet on the 2nd Thursday of each month in Room 361 during Flex. Contact: Kelly Resop

Student Media Team
Helping our students be connected to West, while celebrating, recognizing. and promoting the amazing things our students and staff are doing on our campus and in the community.  Contact: Steph Gorges

Tabletop D&D, Anime & Game Club (TAG)
Our club provides an opportunity for students who love games, D&D, and Anime to gather once a week to watch, socialize, discuss, and play. We don’t focus on any one particular style or method. Members of the club bring their own consoles, cards, board games, and DVDs to share, so we can have a different experience every meeting. All West students from all backgrounds are encouraged to join us. We do schedule some special events during the year, and host an end-of-the-year picnic for all members and their families and friends. Contact: Sara Armstrong, Erica Young, Hans Nelson, Austin Herman

Talisman
"The Talisman" is Appleton West's student newspaper. We are always looking for talented students who are interested in journalism to join our staff--we need writers, critics, photographers, sports reporters, and graphic designers to help continue an eighty-plus-year-long tradition of student journalism here at West! We meet after school on Tuesdays in room 211. Contact: Nathan Ossmann

Terror Crew
Terror Crew is a district program that unites upperclassmen with freshmen throughout the school year, focusing on study habits, getting involved and being a successful and respectful member of the school and community. Two days of training in the summer, Freshman Orientation in August, and then weekly training during the school year during Flextime and weekly lessons in the Freshman seminars. We also hold social events throughout the school year such as a fall dance and cocoa and cram for semester finals. 
Contact: Rebecca Whittle, Erin Tiede, Parker Rudie, Alyssa Westphal, Angie Bruner

The West Poets Society

Inspired by the “Dead Poets Society” and the visions of universal poetry taught by visiting poet David Daniel, students have developed a club that encourages writing, sharing, playing with, and performing poetry. Contact: Jess Lindsay

Unified Champion Schools
Celebrating Inclusion. Contact: Shaleen Huth

United Voices
Affinity group for Latino-identifying students to celebrate culture, identity, and visibility. Contact: Hannah Gutierrez Ibarra

V-9 Club
Our mission is to be a social/outreach club that supports its members and serves as an ambassador for Asian/Hmong cultures to the community. Contact: Steve Franklin & Sam Moua

Yearbook
The Clarion is one of the longest-running activities in the school, as West’s first yearbook was published over 100 years ago, when it was Appleton Senior High School. The yearbook staff works hard to produce an award-winning book each year, highlighting all West students as well as the clubs, music groups, plays, athletic teams, and academic events that are a part of every school year. Contact: Erin Tiede, Rebecca Whittle

Yearbook Photography
To collect, edit and organize photos for the yearbook team to use for the annual yearbook publication. Contact: Michael Buchhloz

Young Life
Connect students to positive, trusted adults and build community through the week. Contact: Steph Gorges & Michael Buchholz