El Dorado High School

El Dorado High School hosted its annual Community Service Day on Mar. 28, 2025, bringing students together to give back to the community and enjoy fun activities.

The day began with an inspiring speech from Ashlyn Luna, a 2022 graduate of El Dorado High School and a current senior at Wichita State University majoring in business management. Luna, who has worked as a Food Programs Assistant at the Kansas Food Bank for the past three years, shared her journey in volunteering. She explained that she started because it was an easy way to get involved, but she soon realized that volunteering could make a real difference.

"Volunteering opened doors for me that I never imagined," Luna said. She emphasized that volunteering provides valuable skills such as leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, and communication through real-world experiences. She encouraged students to start small, find causes they care about, and take advantage of opportunities in school and the local community.

Luna reminded students that even small efforts make a huge impact for those who receive the help She challenged students to take one small step toward volunteering within the next 30 days.

“Take the first step,” Luna said. “You never know where it might take you.”

Following the guest speaker, students participated in a variety of community service projects throughout the day. Many students visited Flinthills Services, local elementary schools, and Homestead Senior Living to spend time with residents and students. Others worked on projects at the high school, including writing motivational messages on bathroom mirrors, cleaning out storage areas for Cats Couture, concessions, band, orchestra, drama, tunnels, and the auditorium.

Students also helped clean up the community by picking up trash at El Dorado Lake, East Park, and the golf course. Some baked chocolate chip cookies for first responders, while others created May Day baskets to spread kindness.

Additional projects included sorting donations with Great Beginnings, painting designs on rocks to place around town, decorating sidewalks with chalk art, making t-shirt bags for the homeless, crafting tie blankets, and creating tissue paper flowers. Another group of students assisted with preparations for the district's annual Back to School Bash event.

For lunch, the Red Devils grilled hamburgers and hot dogs outside the high school, providing a delicious meal for everyone to enjoy. The afternoon was packed with fun activities, including Hallway Bingo, dodgeball, and various games, fostering camaraderie and school spirit.

The event was organized by the Kansas Association for Youth (KAY) under the leadership of Madison Busby and Tobias Somerville, showcasing the school's dedication to community involvement and student leadership. The goal was that students left with a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue making a difference in their community.