![Sophomore Lily Bell posing as a player in the senior assassin game. Seniors participating in the game eliminate others by squirting them with a water gun, and can wear goggles for immunity against others. “People did have to go out and buy [water] guns, but most people have the googles at home, but you don’t even have to use a gun, you can use water of any sort,” senior Gwyn Christensen said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-1-1-900x1200.jpg)
![The shadows against a captivating blue are a nod to the “Catch Me If You Can” musical poster, both for this performance and the blue from the Broadway show. The detectives in this scene are at shooting practice, in preparation for when they finally encounter Frank Abagnale Jr. “We always say our motto is ‘theater is a team sport,’ and really just emphasizing to our students that everyone is welcome in the drama department. There's always a role for you, whether or not, on stage or behind the scenes, in the costume shop, in the scene shop. [There are] all sorts of different things that go into bringing a show to life. So we love our drama hawks and welcome everyone to drama,” Drama Director Mollie Jo Blahunka said.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/cmiyc-1200x800.jpg)
![Henry, Emily (2021). People we meet on vacation [Book cover]. Berkley Books. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. Haley, Brett (2026). People we meet on vacation [Movie poster]. Movie poster courtesy of 3000 Pictures and Temple Hill Entertainment. Made by Adilyn Hoop using Canva.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/vacay1.png)
![Lockhart, E. (2025). We fell apart [Book cover]. Delacorte Press. Image used under fair use for purposes of commentary and review. The newest book in the “We were liars” collection was released Nov. 4.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/wefell1.png)
![A Group of PEOPEL PE students and helpers set up an obstacle course during class. The “Amazing Race” unit had started in PEOPEL PE where the students and helpers got to compete in a variety of different activities and games. “We try our best to make [inclusion] a school-wide event, but it's just so much more different when you actually engage with the students hands-on and actually get to know them as people.” Sophomore Bree Christensen said. Photo Taken by Ada McNulty.](https://ahstalonnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/unnamed-12-1200x900.jpg)
Walking up to the main entrance at Ankeny High School (AHS) students can see many forms of trash on the ground, from a half-eaten chicken nugget to a Dr. Pepper bottle that is shaking with the wind. If they look over to the grass there are a group of neon energy drinks that have been crushed and stepped on.
The Environmental Club is a student-led club that is getting off the ground at AHS. One of their focuses is cleaning up AHS as well as promoting the idea of being mindful of the environment and starting initiatives that help to protect it or encourage the importance of it.
“I didn’t know it existed last year,” senior and Environmental Club leader Miriam Storey said. “I was noticing how much trash there was all around the parking lots, so I would just pick it up by myself. Then I was like, it would be better if I had more people.”
Last year in 2023 the club existed but did not have as many members, compared to this year with around 10 to 15 consistent people. The leaders have also taken a lot more charge in the projects they want to implement.
“We have great student leadership,” Environmental Club sponsor Taylor Hubbard said. “We have a few students that have really taken the bull by the horns, so to speak.”
When considering joining the club some students may believe all the Environmental Club does is pick up trash, and while that is one aspect of what they do, there is a lot more to the club.
“The goal of the club is to get people interested in helping the environment around Ankeny High School and in Ankeny in general,” senior and co-Environmental Club leader Avery Bacon said. “So we’re focusing more on projects that have to do with the high school and with our community.”
(Lydia Gerety)
A part of the environmental club is the beautification of Ankeny High School’s outdoor areas. This could be making sure they are cleaned up or adding something new.
“We want to have a school garden,” Storey said.
Adding a school garden is not the only bigger project the Environmental Club is thinking about, they are also exploring partaking in or hosting school or community events to promote being mindful of the environment.
“An Earth Day initiative is already put on by the Parks and Rec of Ankeny,” Bacon said. “So we’re gathering a group of people that are interested, they would be cleaning waterways around the high school, and it would be a drive for trees.”
With a lot of ideas and projects to think about, the Environmental Club has begun to divide into separate factions to make it easier to tackle these projects. However, that does not mean members will get stuck in one area.
“Everyone has their own part,” Bacon said. “Everyone is able to pitch ideas if they want to.”
The Environmental Club noticed a problem at AHS and they have decided to take action.
“We want something to change,” Storey said. “We can recognize that stuff is not perfect and we want to help make it a little better.”
