DEARBORN — Fordson High School’s key club was a big winner at the 62nd Annual Michigan District Key Club Convention that took place in Kalamazoo last weekend, where hundreds of key clubs in schools across Michigan united one roof.

Key club members, adult advisors and invited guests attended for a weekend of service, workshops, and a presentation of awards. Students made blankets, dresses, dolls, packaged rice, and attended lectures to improve their board positions. 

Fordson High School key club.

Key club is an organization with a goal of helping people in the community. Fordson’s organization in particular has raised money, gone to nursing homes, attended handicap events, as well as assisted and served food, according to Fordson’s key club advisor, Zinab Zriek, a Language Arts teacher at the high school.  Last May, the organization raised money for an ill hospital patient in order for him to seek proper treatment in Minnesota. 

This year Fordson’s organization sent nine people to the yearly convention, including seven board members and two other members. In total, the organization has over 160 students. During the convention, the schools are awarded and recognized for their efforts in key club, with a panel voting on achievements in a number of areas.

Fordson was a big winner during the award ceremony, by far outpacing every other district. In total, they won 14 awards, coming in first place in seven of the categories. Haneen Ali, a Fordson student and secretary of the organization, received 1st place in the secretary award category.  Other categories the school placed 1st in included district projects, canned foods and club video. 

Zriek was also honored at the event. She received the Dave Steger Faculty Advisor of the Year award. As her second year as the school’s advisor for key club, Zriek says she’s honored for the recognition, because a female Muslim has never won the award in the past. 

“It was definitely a humbling experience, and I have to say I’m very proud of how outstanding these students have done. Attitude and leadership wise, they are serving their community and showing compassion towards others. It’s amazing to see young students like this who are going to be leaders,” Zriek stated.