The Student Council (StuCo) election process will occur differently this year compared to past elections.

Although the parliamentary system will remain in tact – only StuCo representatives cast votes for officer positions – members running for president will give speeches in front of the entire high school in an optional assembly. After hearing the speeches, students will have the opportunity to ask the candidates questions, and also advise their grade representative on whom to vote for. In light of this change, The Standard found out what the presidency means to the two aspiring candidates.

Jordi Albanell (’17):

What has been your greatest accomplishment during your tenure as a StuCo rep?

I have worked in several committees throughout my whole three years in StuCo and every time in [those] committees we have made several accomplishments. For example, I was in the committee that brought juice back. I also have organized a lot of the events. I was one of the spirit heads for both of the ninth and tenth grade and I am currently working on one right now, which is hopefully in the process of getting [approved by Director of Student Life James] Perry, which is opening up [an area for students] outside the cafeteria, and Mr. Perry said there is high chance it will happen and I have worked really hard on that. I think that is my biggest accomplishment in three years, because it’s something I came up with by myself and worked on it the whole time.

What is the biggest issues facing Stuco Right now?

I would not say people take us as a joke, not quite as a joke but they just don’t take us seriously; I think that’s the biggest issue. It’s something we keep working on, it’s not just this year, it’s always been a problem and everyone is always tried to change it and I think that’s our main problem, how people don’t take it seriously, and I want to make sure if I would be president to change people’s minds about that.

If you are elected president, what will be your number one ambition? If you could implement one policy, or make one change immediately, what would it be?

Something that bothers me is a lot of the times people will always ask me ‘what’s the point of StuCo?’ and ‘does it really help?’, and ‘why don’t we just get rid of it?’ So, I want to make sure if, if I were to be elected today, as president to share out to the entire High School body what we do, what each individual does in the high school, because it’s amazing how much people do in the high school but don’t get recognized for it.

Bearing in mind you would be president of the entire high school, what makes you a good leader?

My strengths are I am really responsible, I have never missed a meeting…I know my way around the high school very well; I know lots of teachers, I have good connections with them. I have been in the StuCo three years here and…all my years in Middle School [StuCo] so I feel like I have been quite experienced with StuCo. I am pretty good at speaking in front of large audiences when it comes to having meetings. I would say I am fun but also strict when it comes to meetings. I will make sure everyone is paying attention at all times. My only weakness that I think is quite big is time commitment, because I am involved in [soccer] and robotics, which are the two biggest things, but I think I [could] overcome this weakness. I have always done football and robotics and StuCo and that’s never been a problem for me, I have always made sure to come [to] every Friday meeting, and every meeting outside of that.

Ariadne Letrou-Papamarkakis (’17)

What has been your greatest accomplishment during your tenure as a StuCo rep?

I think it’s the little things because I’ve slowly started to…gain momentum in student council and I think every little thing I do adds up. So, for example I am head of [the] catering [committee] so I talked about getting an ID card machine in the high school and soft pretzels in the cafeteria. Obviously I was part of getting the juice back last year. We’re working on re-opening Loudoun – that’s not an accomplishment I guess – but is something I’m working on. But I think it’s the little things that student council does and that I do that amount to what we are.

What is the biggest issues facing StuCo Right now?

I think the biggest thing, is organization because even though we are only 20 people, sometimes it gets very hard to manage and also, sometimes it’s overwhelming how much we take on and people kind of just lose themselves in all these small, little tasks that it’s important that we are always ahead of the game and always start planning ahead even though the event might be in quite awhile. And I think it’s important that we start planning the events ahead of time so that we can work simultaneously on things that aren’t events, like changing something to do with the cafeteria or something to do with academics.

If you are elected president, what will be your number one ambition? If you could implement one policy, or make one change immediately, what would it be?

I think being able to give teachers feedback on their courses, because I know there used to be a student feedback form, but finding a way to do that so that it’s not overwhelming for the teachers and for the students. And also so courses can evolve faster based on the actual students in the class because I sometimes think that if the student feedback is done at the end of the course, then it’s a bit too late, so I think it’s important that the communication between the actual students in the class and the teachers is very clear and transparent so that teachers can tailor the classes towards their students, so finding a medium for this communication is very important, and I’ve been working on it with [Assistant Principal Karen] Bonthrone, but so yeah I think that’s my one ambition I want to implement by the end of this year and hopefully for it to continue.

Bearing in mind you would be president of the entire high school, what makes you a good leader?

I think what makes me a good leader is that I am always willing to go the extra mile and devote 110% into everything that I do…I’m never quite satisfied with just doing well or just putting the minimum amount of effort to complete something. So I’d always push myself and challenge myself to go the extra mile and make everyone happy because that’s what makes me happy. I think also I’m reliable and dependable, so if people need a job done I can be counted on to do it.