Juniors Lizzy Arnold, Aylin Rocha, Daniel Smith and Caroline Whipple are all running for Student Council president at De Soto High School for the 2018-19 school year. Elections will take place during Seminar on March 24.

What the candidates are involved in:

Arnold: Girls’ tennis, StuCo, Prom Committee, Pep Club, National Honor Society (NHS), Newspaper and Principal’s Council.

Rocha: Cheerleading, StuCo, Prom Committee, Pep Club, NHS, Debate, A&M Crew and Freshman Mentoring and Principal’s Council.

Smith: Drum major of the band, StuCo, Scholar’s Bowl, NHS, Mr. Wildcat, symphonic band and boys’ tennis.

Whipple: Yearbook, A&M crew and Freshman Mentoring, StuCo, NHS and Prom Committee.

Why are you running for Student Council President?

Arnold: What made me want to run for Student Council President is my passion for making school a fun environment. As students we spend nearly all of our time at school, so that time should be fun or enjoyable. High school is something everyone goes through, but I want to try my best to help make decisions that benefit the school and its environment.

Rocha: I’m running for Student Council president because I want to create a more fun atmosphere at De Soto. I want to voice and implement both my ideas and the student body’s. I also feel like I’m an effective leader and could take on the responsibility of being president.    

Smith: I am running because I simply love DHS. I’ve been in StuCo since the very start of my freshman year and have learned a lot of lessons and skills along the way and have been inspired by our past officers to run. I want to further DHS’ changes that I have seen in the past three years.

Whipple: It’s always been a goal of mine, and I’d really love to have the opportunity to collaborate with people and implement new ideas in the school.

What will you do for the student body as Student Council president?

Arnold: I would want to have a lot more activities and fundraisers throughout the year. Homecoming is always a time where we have a lot of school spirit, but usually around second semester we start to run out of steam and all the excitement dies. That also applies to the winter dance. I’d love to help make that more fun so we could get a better attendance.

Rocha: As president I would want to create more fundraising and fun activities for the school. I would also want to work with Mr. Ruff in creating better programs in things such as Honor Cards. Also, I want to keep senior parking and just create a fun atmosphere at our school.

Smith: As the StuCo president, it would be my responsibility to be an active listener of my fellow students. If a pressing problem occurs that students want to change, I have to be there to hear it, and take it back to our administration and talk about consideration. I also have to actively adapt DHS along with its growing students. The students are an important part of the school. No students, no school, right?

Whipple: If elected, I plan to listen to the student body. I want to make sure everyone feels comfortable giving feedback or new ideas on how to make things better. I’d also love to fight for things that students want—Honor Card rights, early release, union.

Why do you think you would be a good representative of the student body?

Arnold:  I think one of my strong points is how social I am and the passion I have for people. I really think I can make a difference and would actually do everything I can to connect with the student body to get their wants and needs met, which at the basis is the main point of Student Council.

Rocha: I’m involved in a lot of different activities throughout the school that allow me to listen to a lot of different viewpoints and take them into consideration. As well as this, I feel like a lot of people find me as a trusting person and always feel comfortable telling me things that are bothering them.  

Smith: I’d make a great representative because of my leadership abilities, as well as being a very sociable person. I make great relationships with many students and teachers because I feel like a leader should get to know their school and the people in it more than others.

Whipple: I think I’d be a good candidate because I work really well with others, and I love helping to make people happy. I feel like if elected I could really help students feel accepted and as though they have a voice. A community feel is very important in our building, and I want to ensure that we don’t lose that with our growing enrollment numbers.