FRISCO, TEXAS — If you hear someone yell “Roll for initiative!” down the halls of CHS on a Wednesday afternoon, don’t panic– it’s just the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) Club members fighting dragons and monsters.
The club is sponsored by Mr. Hanna, who shared “I learn[ed] how to play in high school. We didn’t have a club, but the teachers allowed us to play during study hall.” That early exposure and fondness for the game stuck with him throughout the years. Later as a teacher at Centennial, he was encouraged to start something new– and so, the D&D Club was born.
Shows like Stranger Things, where the main characters often battle monsters both in their game and in real life, have resulted in the game’s recent popularity. With D&D’s growing relevance in pop culture, it is no surprise that the students are ready to jump in and have fun.
This club is more than just dice rolls and character sheets. “It’s a social club, a chance to meet other students [with] similar interests,” says Mr. Hanna. “[A place] to let off some steam and explore creativity with no boundaries.”
Student involvement is the key to the club’s spirit. “I’ve been an avid fan of D&D for a while now, having played it outside of school for around a third of my life,” says Centennial junior Janelle Adams, one of the officers and Dungeon Masters.
“When I heard that Centennial had a D&D club in my freshman year, I was excited to join and get to know people with similar interests as me” Janelle adds. “Most of my responsibilities revolve around managing my group of players and scheduling things.”
Mr. Hanna said that being part of the D&D club when he was growing up helped him “personally grow and be less shy and be able to talk to people.” He says that D&D helped him get into information technology.
Now Mr. Hanna hopes the club continues to give students what it gave him years ago: confidence, creativity, and connection. One thing is clear at Centennial, the D&D Club is more than just a game; it’s a community where imagination thrives, friendship forms and everyone has a place at the table.
