Activities & Clubs

Advisor: Nancy Kowalski

Dance Co is the Mankato East Dance Team.  Tryouts are held in October with practices running through early January.  The Dance Company leadership team choreographs and teaches the dances which our team will perform in our January showcase.   Dance Company is a non-competitive dance team. 

Coaches: Melanie Schmidt & Emily Dauk

Debate is a combined Mankato East/Mankato West program that is open to all students in grades 7-12 who desire to improve their persuasion, communication, and speaking skills in a competitive environment. The debate team participates in the MN Classic Debate format and competes in tournaments throughout the state from September to December. Competition on a national level is also available for qualifying students. Students planning careers in law, politics, or management will find debate to be a valuable experience in the development of their research, reasoning, analysis, and speaking skills.

Advisor: James Blahnik

DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs for careers in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe.  DECA Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit student organization with more than 177,000 members in all 50 United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and Germany. The United States Congress, the United States Department of Education and state, district and international departments of education authorize DECA’s programs.

• Learn - enrich your career knowledge and skills for your future pursuits.

• Lead - enhance your leadership skills as you become a next gen business professional.

• Compete - engage in competitive events to prove your business prowess and earn DECA Glass.

• Discover - experience travel as a business professional as you discover new places.

DECA Club membership is open to all students interested in careers involving business.  A $38.00 fee is collected at the beginning of the school year.

Advisor: Amber Waibel

Drama club is an organization open to students in grades 9-12 who are interested in the performing arts. This club is open for students who want to be on stage, those who want to learn the dynamics of technical theater, and those interested in learning how to stage manage. Students involved in Drama Club attend monthly meetings and work collaboratively with theatre students during the Fall and Spring plays. 

Advisors: Emily Dauk

Knowledge Bowl is an interdisciplinary academic competition that encourages teamwork, collaboration, effective communication, and strategic thinking as students work together in teams of four to answer questions in both a written round and several oral rounds. No team is eliminated in this event, and every team participates in every round. Knowledge Bowl is usually a power competition in which competing teams are rearranged after each round on the basis of their total points accumulated.

Advisors: Joy Visto

Link Crew is a high school transition program that welcomes freshmen and makes them feel comfortable throughout the first year of their high school experience. Built on the belief that students can help students succeed, Link Crew trains members of the junior and senior class to be Link Leaders. As positive role models, Link Leaders are motivators, leaders, and teachers who guide the freshmen to discover what it takes to be successful during the transition to high school.

Advisor: Jennifer Floren

The League exists to identify students who have unusual mathematical ability, to give them recognition and encouragement, to bring them together with similarly gifted students, and to encourage the study of topics not commonly taught in the high school curriculum. League activities are designed to challenge students with high and unusual mathematical ability, but also seek to influence general mathematics education. We believe that a program for gifted students is shortsighted if it is not also developed in a way that strengthens mathematics education for all students.

Advisor: Heather Krause & Holly Evans

The National Honor Society (NHS) is composed of juniors and seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, character, leadership and service. To be eligible, students must initially have a minimum cumulative G.P.A. of 3.5 and complete other membership requirements in the areas of character, leadership and service. Regular meetings will be held with emphasis placed on individual and chapter service projects. The minimum G.P.A must be maintained in order to continue membership. 

Advisor: Laurie Hagberg

Peer Tutoring and Mentorship are courses at Mankato East. Students "volunteer" to enroll in both or one course by consulting their counselor. The Peer Tutoring program provides an important opportunity for students at Mankato East to help others and learn about themselves. Peer Tutors support high school teachers and their class of students. Mentors support elementary or middle school students at their home school. They volunteer with full classrooms, small groups, and one on one. Both electives require daily attendance during the class period and online Canvas activities related to the course and educational concepts. These courses offer rewarding career exposure while supporting the learning of others.

Advisor: Dave Burgess

This science club is an organization of people who are wanting to learn more about astronomy and earth sciences.  Club members will learn how to run and present different science topics to the public.  It will also develop interactive programming for k-4 kids in climate change and cultural storytelling.

Advisor: Sarah Thursby

The Prom Committee plans and prepares for the spring prom. Utilize your creative talents in choosing a Prom theme, and bringing the theme to life in the decorating and organization of this spring event. Duties include: prom theme selection, ordering supplies, designing and building props for the grand march, fundraising, decorating, organization of the event, setting up/taking down, collaborating in making The Mankato East Prom an event to remember.  

Advisor: Kristen Van Otterloo & Brittany Galetka

SHINE is an organization that promotes respect for diversity. It is a program devoted to increasing tolerance and understanding between social and ethnic groups at school. Activities include poster campaigns, cultural celebrations and social events.

Advisor: Jannelle Zarn

Speech is an extracurricular activity open to any student in grades 7-12 interested in public speaking and interpretation of literature and drama in a competitive environment. Students compete in the 13 speech events, sponsored by the Minnesota State High School League, including statewide invitational tournaments from February to April. Qualifying students are eligible to compete in the Section, State and National Speech and Debate Association tournaments in April. Opportunities also exist for students to compete on a national level.

Advisor: Mary Nelson

The Mankato East Student Council is a student-run organization designed to improve the school and community environment of Mankato East High School. Our organization focuses on helping students be involved in the process of developing student-centered events that build a culture and community feel for a memorable high school experience. Specifically by providing opportunities for students to serve closely with their peers, their teachers, and their administration in making decisions that will improve our school as a whole. Students who are a part of Student Council will develop leadership and organizational skills through the planning, management, and running of school events, including Welcome Back assemblies, Lunch on the Lawn, Battle of the Classes, hosting dances at East High School, Homecoming festivities, and Jack of Hearts Week along with serving at events in our partner elementary/middle schools and community. All students are welcome to become general members of Student Council.

Advisor: Michele Machado

The Vex Robotics Team allows students to reinforce their basic math, reading, and computer skills through design, construction, and programming of robots built to complete a task determined by the VEX Robotics company for a competition.  Students are responsible for the design and programming of a robot that must meet design parameters set by the VEX company. 

Advisor: Susan Johnson

The Yearbook staff produces a pictorial and written review of the school year. Staff members interview and gather material for all aspects of academic, organizations, sports, and extracurricular activities. The Photography course is helpful, but not a necessary prerequisite. Yearbook is a year-long course that meets during the regular school day. Editors are chosen either in the spring for the following year or early in the fall of the new school year.