Emma Mcdaniel is a senior at Clover Hill who helped to create one of the Hill’s most unique clubs. During her time at Clover Hill, her love for the Biology Club has helped it thrive and grow from an idea into an important part of the community.
Early one Thursday morning, the club was having its last meeting for the year. The dedicated group of people who have joined since its first meeting two years ago gathered in the outdoor classroom, surrounded by birdsong and dense forest, to eat breakfast together and commemorate past meetings. Sitting at one of the tables, Mcdaniel reflected on her favorite parts of being at Clover Hill.
“Biology Club is my favorite,” Mcdaniel said. “It just makes me happy to see all these kids that love biology, and they come early in the morning every morning, and I like to spend time outside before school, so it’s been really nice.”
Along with two other seniors, Mcdaniel is one of the original founders of the Biology Club.
“Me, Abby Taylor, and Isabella Bushey started this club together,” Mcdaniel said. “The idea was in sophomore year, and then we got it together by the end and it’s just been a regular thing every Thursday ever since.”
She now serves as an officer in the club, helping to organize and maintain it. She works alongside the other two officers and the club’s sponsor, biology teacher Dana Johnson.
“I help Ms. Johnson plan what we’re gonna be doing at the meetings,” Mcdaniel said. “I’ll help with the little things people need help with in biology club. Talking to the group, communicating with the group chat, things like that.”
Biology club is not the only activity that Mcdaniel is involved in.
“I’m in Biology Club, SNHS, Beta Club, NAHS, Latin Club, NHS… I think that’s it. Oh, and I run track and cross country,” Mcdaniel said.
She plans to pursue many of these same interests after leaving the Hill.
“I’m going to Roanoke College, I’m majoring in biology, I have an art scholarship as well, and I’m gonna run cross country,” Mcdaniel said.
Mcdaniel loves the open and welcoming environment she experienced during her time here.
“It seems like everyone at Clover Hill is really accepting of everything and I feel like you just have a friend everywhere at Clover Hill,” Mcdaniel said. “I know how other schools I’ve heard about, they’re pretty clique-ey, but Clover Hill it just seems like all of the groups just intermingle, everybody is just kind of together, and I like that.”
With the original Biology Club officers, all seniors, leaving the school, the club has elected new officers this year to carry on their legacy. Mcdaniel hopes to return to visit someday soon, and see how the community she helped create has grown in the time since her sophomore year.
