Discussing BV Link Crew '26-'27 Preparations With Mr. Leach and Brennan Alonzo
BV Newsroom
By Talmage Wigginton and Mark Yadchuk
Fair Oaks, CA - April 16th, 2026
The Bella Vista Link Crew is beginning preparations for welcoming the class of 2030 during the 2026-27 school year! Established in 2016, this organization of both students and staff has been ensuring that freshmen feel comfortable when they step on to the Bella Vista campus for the first time through leading orientations, running freshman-only study sessions like Cocoa and Cram or Cookies and Cram, and being a supportive voice all year long! We had the pleasure of interviewing Junior Brennan Alonzo and Link Crew coordinator Mr. Leach to talk about the value of Link Crew and what it means to them.
First, we were able to talk to Mr. Leach about what Link Crew’s goals are, why students should get involved, and his own experiences as a part of link crew. Below is our full interview, slightly edited for grammar, but the meaning has been preserved:
Q: What’s your favorite part about leading Link Crew?
A: My favorite part is working with our students to help them become stronger leaders on campus. Through the events and outreach that we do, Link Crew helps create a positive atmosphere at Bella Vista as they support our 9th grade students.
Q: What does Link Crew do and what are the teacher and leader roles?
A: Link Crew is a student support organization in which 11th and 12th grade students are given a group of 9th grade students to follow up on throughout the school year. Link Crew offers social events and academic support throughout the year, and it begins with the first 9th grade event of the year: Freshman Orientation! There are 110 student leaders who plan and run the events and follow up on their small group of 9th graders. We have 7 adult leaders (teachers, counselors, support staff) who help with training, accountability, and student support.
Q: What would you say to students interested in joining Link Crew? (Applications close on April 17th at 11:59)
A: Link Crew is a great community of students! If you are looking for a leadership opportunity with an amazing group to connect to, consider joining the Link Crew team. Besides being part of one of the most exciting events of the year with Freshman Orientation, Link Crew leaders will get the chance to support their small group of 9th graders throughout the year and have fun with their fellow Link Crew leaders. Students can apply during their 10th and 11th grade year. Side note: the last day to submit an application for this year is Friday, April 17 by 11:59pm! If you missed it, apply next year!
Q: What led you to start helping with Link Crew?
A: I started working at Bella Vista during the first year that Link Crew was on campus (2016). The adult leaders (also known as Link Crew coordinators) that year were Mrs. Varanelli, Mrs. Serena, Mr. Orton, and Mr. Gerould. Each of these teachers connected with me in the first couple of months of the school year and asked me if I was interested in being on the team. After I attended a few Link Crew events, I was hooked! I loved every aspect of the program and got trained to be a Link Crew coordinator the following year.
I find incredible joy and fulfillment in being a part of Link Crew and working with our LC student leaders every year. The coordinators are some of my favorite people on campus – working with them is awesome. I love being a part of Freshman Orientation – just the fun chaos of that very important event! What has kept me involved in this program is the knowledge that the first year of high school presents unique challenges to our 9th graders, and I get to work alongside a team of students and adults to help our 9th graders find success and support throughout the year.
Then, to get the perspective of a student leader, we talked to Brennan about what it means to be a Link Crew leader, what they do for the school community, and what he has learned from this experience. This interview is also slightly edited for grammar, but the meaning is preserved:
Q: For people who may not have heard of it, what is Link Crew and what does it mean to be a Link Crew leader?
A: Link Crew is the program that is hosted here at BV and it’s basically where upperclassmen, juniors and seniors, help the lowerclassmen, like freshmen, to integrate into BV, helping them find their way around campus, and just generally being helpful to incoming students. A Link Crew leader is someone who just helps support the community at BV and helps enable people to be the best they can every day during the BV experience.
Q: You already ended up alluding to it, but how does Link Crew make it easier for freshmen to transition to the high school environment?
A: Typically, we do freshmen tours before school starts so they can see where their classes are. Also, we serve as guides. If a student sees someone in a Link Crew shirt, they can always ask them questions, so there is always a helpful guide for freshmen if they ever need help with something. That’s pretty much what Link Crew leaders are for.
Q: What sort of skills have you personally developed through being a part of Link Crew?
A: I think I have become a much better speaker. I’ve been a lot better at expressing ideas and helping other people. I’ve become a much more social person because I’ve been so much more expressive through my opportunities I’ve gotten as a leader.
Q: Awesome! What would you say to anyone that is considering joining Link Crew this year?
A: I would say go for it because I’ve really enjoyed it. It’s been a blast. I’ve made a couple of friends and some of my other friends just joined. But it’s also an enjoyable experience helping people. So if you want to improve the BV community or just want something to do for the last four days of the summer, you can always join Link Crew!
For any sophomores or juniors interested in joining the Link Crew next year, there is still time to sign up! As Mr. Leach and Brennan have expressed, it is certainly a worthwhile experience that will help incoming freshmen as well as your own leadership skills! Find one of the coordinators or scan the QR codes on flyers in the halls and sign up by Friday, April 17th!
Comments