Last week, Madison Matice was re-elected to be the Lieutenant Governor of Key Club for Division 18, which oversees nine schools in the Capital District.
Madison is a junior this year and in addition to being involved in the Key Club, she is also the Vice President of the APHS Student Government and does announcements for the high school. Madison recently took some time to participate in a Q&A.
How did you get involved with Key Club?
Coming into High School as a freshman, things can be scary. You don’t know anyone yet and have no clue what is going on. My ninth grade English teacher, Mrs. Gaboury, introduced me to Key Club because she is one of the co-advisors for it. She said “come by and join us for a meeting, you would love it.” She wasn’t wrong. I absolutely fell in love with Key Club because it felt like I was doing my part to help others in my school and community.
What made you want to have a more prominent role in this club and be a part of Division 18?
After my freshman year of Key Club, I knew I wanted to do more. I was elected by my club to be Vice President of Averill Park High School Key Club. Holding that position through my Sophomore year was great. Then I was offered an opportunity that changed everything. In February 2020 I was offered the position of Lieutenant Governor. I was nervous at first because it is a lot of work, but I decided to go for it. This past service year has been tough with the restrictions that the COVID-19 pandemic has put on some events, but I was determined to work around the obstacles given to me to make it the best year yet. As my service year was coming to an end, I had to decide if I still wanted to be Lieutenant Governor or not and I didn’t hesitate at all and said yes! On February 11, 2021, I held an Election Divisional so the schools I oversee could vote for this year’s Lieutenant Governor and I was re-elected. I am so fortunate again to be able to help guide and lead nine schools in my Division to success.
What do you do in your role as Lieutenant Governor?
Lieutenant Governor has a pretty extensive job description, but to sum it up, I serve as the Chief Executive of Division 18, leading all Key Clubs within my division. This includes nine schools in the Capital District, including Troy, Columbia, Hoosick Falls, and others. A Lieutenant Governor oversees the activities of all the clubs within their division. They also must assist Club officers with dues, projects and management to make sure everything runs smoothly.
Do you have any favorite parts of this position or favorite memories made being part of Key Club?
Being a part of Key Club has provided me with so many extraordinary opportunities. My favorite part is definitely participating in the different service projects that APHS Key Club holds. For example, in October 2020 I had the opportunity to donate blood at our High School blood drive run by Key Club, and had an amazing experience – my blood was actually sent to a hospital in Baltimore, Maryland to help a patient in need. As a Club, our goal is to spread awareness and show how important it is to donate blood because you can easily save a life. Even with the restrictions that we had with COVID-19, we were still able to run a very successful blood drive.
Would you recommend being a part of Key Club to other students?
One hundred percent, yes! For me, being a part of Averill Park High School Key Club has made such a big impact on my life and I am so grateful for that. It has taught me great leadership skills, responsibility and respect toward others. If you have the chance to join Key Club, do it!
Do you have any plans for the future in terms of college and beyond?
As a junior right now, it is so scary to realize that next year, in 2022, I will be graduating! For my future, I plan on pursuing my dream to be a part of the medical field. I haven’t decided on what I will be doing yet, but I’m sure it will be extraordinary.
