Service Above Self: Interact Club is building a better community

Rachel Gubbels, Editor • October 31, 2025

On October 3, 2025, Interact Club members met and made a poster for World Mental Health Day. Interact Club hopes to continue to build a strong community.

The Interact Club at Lincoln East is more than just a school club, it’s a dynamic group dedicated to service, community-building, and developing the next generation of strong leaders under the umbrella of Rotary International. It’s a space where students come together to make a tangible difference both in their school and in the general community.

This year marks the third year since the Interact Club at Lincoln East was established. Originally founded by Annabeth Schubert (Class of 2024), and since then the club has grown and is unique, with leadership made up primarily of sophomores.

“We’re a lot about public service,” sophomore Ella Recker, the treasurer of the club said. “We just want to create a good community in East and in Lincoln.”

The club has been busy with various projects to achieve their mission. Current and future plans include a wide range of initiatives, fundraisers, and drives for certain organizations. These ideas include a hygiene drive for foster homes and helping out the local food bank. They also have been focusing on the East community as well as the Lincoln community.

Interact Club connects members to Rotary International’s global network. (Photo by Infographic by Rachel Gubbels)

“Interact has been doing little things all throughout the school,” sophomore Wade Combs, the secretary of the club said. “Such as a poster with encouraging and uplifting messages for students during Mental Illness and Health Awareness Week and posters for students to help them get involved with the community.”

While the club’s mission is service, its members emphasize the positive and welcoming atmosphere. The collaborative environment allows every member to contribute their ideas and passion to the projects.

“We have a really good group of people, and everyone gets a voice,” Recker said. “We give everyone the opportunity to pitch ideas and contribute to every project that we do.”

Get Involved

For anyone with an interest in public service, leadership, and creating lasting friendships, the Interact Club is a welcoming space. Make sure to stop by room 108 every other Friday from 3 to 4 p.m. to make a difference in the community!

“If you even have the slightest interest and want to know more about Interact Club and how to help out, please come to a meeting,” Combs said. “Everyone is welcome, and it’s an amazing space to meet new people and hang out with friends while also making a difference!”

About the Contributors

Rachel Gubbels, Editor

Rachel Gubbels is a senior this year at East and it is her second year on staff. She hopes to improve her skills with photography this year. Outside of The Oracle, she is also involved in HOSA. In her free time, Rachel loves to cook and try new restaurants, noting “Mac and cheese is my favorite food to cook and to eat.” She also loves her black lab, Remy. She is always interested in gaining new information, loving math and science. She loves to read nonfiction books about history and finance to continue to expand her knowledge. After high school, Rachel hopes to be a physician assistant. She reminds us that, “Redbull gives you wings!”

Cora Jones, Staff Writer

Cora Jones is a sophomore here at East and this is her first year on The Oracle staff. She likes to hang out with friends and write in her free time along with listening to music.“I really like singing, playing piano, and guitar,” Jones said. She has a little brother and three cats at home along with her mom and dad. A fun fact about her is that she lived in Australia for a semester. “I’m excited to diversify my writing skills and meet all the different people here,” Jones said.