The student council elections for the 2024-2025 school year saw an upward increase in female participation. Girls across the four grades campaigned for the president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary positions, with the upperclassmen girls having the additional opportunity to run for prom committees. 

This is a positive trend to witness, demonstrating that girls are feeling more encouraged to engage in their respective student councils, an area that has been historically male-dominated. 

I was intrigued to discover that the current senior class president is the first female to hold the position since the class of 2025 began their high school career. 

When speaking to the incumbent president Emilia Maria-Babcock, I asked her what prompted her to run for another election. After all, any president could simply choose to resign after their first term was over for whatever reason rang true to them. 

However, Maria-Babcock was the class president her junior year, and decided to run again her senior year to “make the last year of high school a memorable experience for everyone.” She shared that she didn’t run “just for the title,” but rather that she truly cares about her classmates.

As for her campaigning technique, Maria-Babcock consistently created social media posts, made posters that she hung up around the school, and continued to keep friendly relationships with her peers.

Regarding goals, Maria-Babcock aims to fundraise money in order to treat the senior class to a more affordable prom and fun traditional events like scavenger hunts and spirit days.

On the younger side, the freshman president candidate, Shashi Pokhrel, ran unopposed and therefore won the freshman ballot. Pokhrel ran because she “wanted to make the freshmen voices heard.”

Pokhrel went on to say that she hopes to “improve the surrounding community” in regards to the school and city. 

When it came to advertising for her position, Pokhrel said that she created “around 50 Instagram posts,” a devoted feat that proved successful.

Both presidents proved their eagerness to take on the roles and responsibilities  that accompany being in a leadership position as important as the one they are embarking on. Maria-Babcock is returning to her position with the desire to make the ending of high school as seamless and enjoyable as possible for the class of 2025. Although Pokhrel is a newcomer to the high school student council, she seems centered on her goals to advocate for the Class of 2028.