Every Wednesday of the month in room 200, students gather to appreciate and honour the culture, heritage, and open-armed community that Black Student Union cultivates. Among the nearly 43 different clubs that Sierra Vista High School provides for its students, Black Student Union (BSU) stands out as an inclusive, cultural, and visionary club to its members. Members of BSU utilise the club as a community in which they can discover themselves in a new, culturally diverse understanding–without judgment– and form cherishable, lifelong bonds. From potluck banquets to district conferences, BSU presents several opportunities and events to appreciate African-American excellence and involve its members in working towards creating an embracing, family-like atmosphere.
One of the advisors, Ms Davis, defines BSU as, “a place where you can just get to know more about a history that’s not often talked about… a culture that might be misrepresented and sometimes misunderstood… It’s a place where they have camaraderie.” Davis continues, “I just think getting to know who you are, the students needed it, they wanted it, and that’s the inspiration [behind BSU]. And I always love to see just how much they grow in the time that they’re in the club, and behaviours change… It’s like a progression to see their growth… We get to go out in the community, and we help them do fundraising, and then we join together with other schools, and that’s always fun.”
As a mainly student-led organisation, Black Student Union consists of excellent, example-setting student-board members that enforce the club’s productivity, organise meetings and events, promote activities and social skills, and welcome new members with a smile. Davis explains, “So we have president, vice president, our board is amazing– secretary, media, treasurer. So we try to keep that up and stay present. Nowadays, you have to stay present. So our board is pretty good.” Between BSU’s board members and weekly meetings, the club consists of subcommittees. Davis comments, “[We] have little subcommittees within BSU… there is an event planning subcommittee… step team, the majorettes… and a media team.” Ms Hughes, BSU’s co-advisor, follows up, “This year, our class president, Kyonne Bryant–AKA Kiki– has been phenomenal. Absolutely, Madam President. I couldn’t be doing this without her. She is dedicated, she’s persistent, she is on point, she is in order. Her organization skills are phenomenal. She gave Vista their first annual community Trunk-or-Treat, and it was so successful that it’s something I want to keep going. I told her it’s part of her legacy at Vista… I am so proud of her… This is her second year. Last year, she was our treasurer; she was phenomenal at that. And this year she came in and took the presidency and is just going places.”
BSU’s doors remain open to everyone as a way to learn more about African-American culture, not only those of African descent. Hughes explains BSU for a student by saying, “BSU is open to everyone, not just African-American students. We are a very diverse community…come out if you want to know about the African-American culture. Come out, learn different things, learn different facts. We play fun fact games about different cultures, we try to do a lot of community events surrounded by Las Vegas, and we also interact with other BSU groups. So I think you would come out, meet someone who looks like you, or someone who doesn’t.”
BSU students also participate in state conferences, which include the BSU conference, an event that students and advisors seem to look forward to the most. Davis emphasises, “They like the BSU conference… That one is the best. They pick a school in the district, all the BSUs– they have middle schools now– so all the middle schools and high schools come together and they show their clubs. You’ll see a lot of step teams, dance teams, you’ll see bands, you’ll see videos, and they’ll do poetry. They get up there, and they talk, represent their club, and then they show you clips from the year. That’s the best one. And then they have a party, like a dance party afterwards, and the advisors just let them do them. We just let them have a good ole time.”
New to Sierra Vista High School this year, BSU hosted the first community Trunk-or-Treat just a month ago, and to no surprise, this event resulted in well-deserved success.
BSU sets a foundation where students can form sisterhoods and brotherhoods, become more involved, learn about African culture and black excellence, and, most importantly, branch out and foster a sense of belonging within themselves and their peers. Wrapping up the first semester of the 2025-2026 school year, BSU looks forward to the BSU conference coming up around early 2026. With new events emerging, BSU keeps students updated on important events using their Instagram, “bsu_svhs”.
