With all the student clubs at Viewmont High School, the most popular one is dedicated to just one thing: helping students practice kindness. Students Making a Difference is a PTA-sponsored club that’s been around for more than 10 years, paying good deeds forward one student at a time.

“SMAD is such a great thing. Last year we had more than 60 kids who got together once a month to eat pizza and do a service project in the community,” said PTA Board member Maria Hodgson. “It’s just such a great program.”

Ellery Miller represents the senior class in SMAD. She’s been part of the club for all three years of high school, after joining the group as a sophomore. 

“The activities are really easy, like giving someone in the hall a candy bar,” Miller said. “It allows you to look outside yourself. I think it’s cool to see how many students care about each other and they aren’t as self-absorbed as you think. It gives me hope.”

Each month the group plans activities that highlight empathy and kindness. In March, SMAD held a Mental Health Week where club members handed out water bottles to promote hydration and encouraged students to create compliment cards that were delivered to classmates with candy bars. 

SMAD also gave extra recognition to the VHS custodial staff this year for their hard work, dedication and constant COVID cleaning. Students gave each member of the staff a gift bag and filled the custodial office with handwritten thank you notes.

PTA representative and SMAD President Esther Chinksy said the group has done a lot to boost morale and lift the spirits of students and faculty, especially during this year of upheaval. Events included hosting a luncheon for foreign exchange students, leaving paper hearts on lockers with encouraging notes, and organizing an Easter egg hunt for the teachers. They also decorated and donated a Christmas tree to a local family.

“We encourage club members to befriend others,” Chinksy said. “It’s teaching kids to make a difference. It’s not all about yourself, it’s about others. Hopefully, they can take these lessons when they leave school and take it to college. It’s a really great program. It does good for everyone. We always want it to be around.”

Chinksy said many teachers keep and display the cards they’ve received from SMAD over the years, and she’s been impressed with the ideas and commitment from students in the group. SMAD is always looking for new students to get involved. All it takes is a PTA membership and a desire to do good.

Each year, the PTA presents a $1,000 scholarship to three SMAD seniors who demonstrated leadership, compassion and inclusion. Miller is the recipient of one of those scholarships, along with Christopher West and Taylor Thomas.

“[Miller] is on top of it,” Chinsky said. “She loves this club and I can tell she’s great at getting to know others and getting them involved.”

“As I go to college, I’ll always show gratitude to my teachers and be kind to students who look lonely,” Miller said. “Thanks to SMAD, I’ve learned a little act of kindness can go a long way.”