By Thalya Samuels
Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society is a national organization dedicated to acknowledging academic brilliance in social studies. The organization was established in 2000 by the Florida Council for the Social Studies (FCSS) and its chapter here at Apopka has been around for seven years. The club organizes many activities and events. One of the most popular activities Rho Kappa organizes is Darter Feud.
The club meets about once or twice a month. During each meeting, they usually work on whatever activity they are participating in at the moment. One of their big projects of the year is the Darter Feud event and they are hoping to make a time capsule, as well. The Darter Feud event is a trivia game held in the auditorium annually. The game is modeled after the American game show Family Feud. In addition to recognizing excellence in social studies, the club aims to contribute to things that involve history in our community. Rho Kappa works with organizations such as the Masonic Lodge and the American Farm Legion to perform different projects. When asked about the importance of social studies in comparison to other subjects, the club sponsor, Mr. Mellon stated, “You relive the past, if you don’t learn from it and a lot of the social studies is not about the past, it’s about where we are now and where we’re headed. So, I wouldn’t say ours is more important, but ours is more important than people realize.” It is obvious that the club is more than just about involvement in social studies. It also provides a space where students can learn to work together and understand the importance of contributing to the community.
The president of the Apopka chapter of Rho Kappa is junior Jacob Opdahl. After being made aware that no one had originally run for the position, he volunteered for it. The situation is quite interesting, considering this was Opdahl’s first year as a member. When asked about the experience, Opdahl responded, “ I hadn’t planned on running, but with no one standing up, I decided to take my chances. Without a doubt, it’s been a trial by fire, but a great learning experience nonetheless.” His responsibilities as president include organizing events, hosting meetings, and tracking volunteer hours. As expected, Opdahl feels strongly about the importance of social studies. In his discussion about the topic, he quoted the notable Spanish philosopher George Santayana: “Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Although it is focused on recognizing academic prowess in social studies, the Rho Kappa club has a multitude of other initiatives. They include instilling the importance of the community and teamwork in young, intelligent minds. Rho Kappa teaches its members many lessons that will help them beyond the confines of the classroom and beyond their high school years.