How this Student Leader is Supporting Our Most Vulnerable Neighbors

By Seojin Ha, CMN staff

Tahiyah Khan, a senior at Sunset High School, initially joined Key Club as a freshman because her sister and friends were there. She braced herself for the stereotypical volunteer experience: a stagnant atmosphere defined by dry presentations and a back row of students lost to the glow of their phones. Instead, she was met with a high-octane, student-led movement that reshaped her trajectory. Today, Tahiyah serves as the Lieutenant Governor (LTG) for Division 65, navigating the leadership of Key Clubs across the Beaverton, Hillsboro, and Forest Grove school districts.

At its core, Key Club is a student-led international service organization, but its local heartbeat is sustained by Kiwanis International. Tahiyah’s chapter at Sunset, one of the oldest clubs at the school, thrives under the sponsorship of the Cedar Hills Kiwanis. Their advisor Mose Walker links students with volunteering opportunities like the Portland Marathon, Forest Park cleanups, and hygiene drives. “Mose and Kiwanis are the backbone of our chapter,” Tahiyah comments. Beyond mentorship, the Kiwanis provide critical funding, often donating large sums to cover the costs for members to attend the annual District Convention.

As Lieutenant Governor, Tahiyah ensures her district’s collective pulse remains steady. This year, her team focused on supporting the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Portland as their annual district project. This organization acts as a “home away from home” for families of children relocated for surgical needs. Beyond the large project planning, Tahiyah acts as a hands-on leader. She participates in the many school meetings across her district to audit their engagement and streamline their initiatives. Whether she is coordinating a group to make love rocks and hand-painted cards or managing a divisional service project, she has contributed to easing the burdens of families this year.

To any rising high school freshmen, Tahiyah promotes Key Club as the ultimate gateway. “Expand your horizons,” she encourages. “You can pick what you want to do.” Her favorite memory at Hagg Lake captures this balance. After packaging 100 hygiene items into kits and painting tranquil nature scenes, the club spent the day enjoying the sun. It was a perfect “high impact” moment proving service can be as social as it is significant. Tahiyah’s own trajectory, rising from a freshman member to Project Director, then Club President, and finally Lieutenant Governor, is a testament to the club’s power. For Tahiyah, Key Club became a leap of faith that turned a typical school activity into a lifelong passion for community connection.