After competing in the lip sync competition on Nov. 21, the Asian Pacific Islander Club (API) was announced the first place winner and rewarded $500 at the winter assembly on Dec. 20. BSU placed second and Chess Club placed third.  

API has competed in both the competition in 2023 and the recently held event of 2024. Last year they placed third, performing “Tell Me” by Wonder Girls, “Super Shy” by NewJeans, and “Gangnam Style” by PSY. This year API performed “OMG” by NewJeans, “Perfect Night” by LE SSERAFIM, and “What is Love” by Twice. 

Sandy Tang, Lucy Lu, and Sandy Li, juniors, performed with API at Clubs Got Talent. The club took multiple hours to prepare for the performance. 

“We started preparing two weeks in advance,” Tang said. “The first week was personal or by yourself and [we] learned the dances [off of Youtube]. Then the next week we all group together and we did two hours per day after school and sometimes during lunch we’d have 30 minute practices.” 

API went through all the steps to create their performance: signing up, choosing the songs, learning the choreography, creating formations, deciding costumes, and learning the lyrics to be able to lip sync. 

“There was a lot [of conflict choosing the songs] because everybody has different tastes [in] music,” Tang said. “Some people liked boy K-Pop groups and others liked girl K-Pop groups, but we figured it out.” 

The winning club was determined by whoever had the majority of votes cast by students. In order to do this, clubs tried to make a good impression that stands out from the others. 

“Our synchronization and formations was what helped us stand out from other clubs,” Tang said. 

For students, performing in front of people can bring anxiety or excitement, and Lu experienced both.

“I was really excited and then seeing how the crowd reacted made me really happy,” Lu said. 

Clubs Got Talent is an opportunity for clubs to raise money and awareness for their cause. API club gives people from Asian or Pacific Islander heritage a space to find community and celebrate their culture. 

“It represents my culture and it helps me share it with this community and lets the whole school know about some aspects of Asian culture,” Tang said. 

With over 60 clubs at the high school, API has over 20 members and recurring fundraisers that have become traditions within the school. 

“Our club is more focused on fundraising, like the boba fundraiser that helps us share our culture through food,” Tang said.

On top of performing for an auditorium full of students during Clubs Got Talent, API also performed during the winter assembly after they were announced the winners and given the $500 check. Emily Pierce, junior, is part of the club and was in the dance at both events..

“We will use the money towards more fundraisers and events like our annual Chinese New Year celebration,” Pierce said. 

API has held various events over the year, including the Chinese New Year celebration and API culture fair during API Heritage Month. Li, Lu, and Tang agree on the three words for their club: culture, diversity, and community.