Name: Mikhaila Archer

Junior Class Presidential Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I believe that I’d be a good candidate for junior class president because I care a great deal about the well-being and contentment of the grade. Aside from being well-organized, reliable, and a strong leader, I think class presidents should specifically focus on two things. One, making sure the grade has a strong sense of community, and Two, creating a fun environment outside of academic life. Having come from a middle school with grades of around 60 students, I’ve always been used to a strong bond with my classmates. While I know it’s more difficult to accomplish this in a grade of 103, I’d try my hardest as president to organize events and contribute new ideas that will bring us somewhere close. For example, something I’d love to incorporate into next year is some form of recognition for students that participate in areas other than athletics. It’s always amazing when our friends get awarded with “athlete of the week” throughout the sports seasons, but I think it would be just as great to have some sort of way to appreciate students who act, sing, draw, etc. Not only would this support the arts, but it would create a stronger sense of community by supporting more of the class. Finally, I believe that I possess some of the most important qualities a president can have; reliability, creativity, and flexibility.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

This past year, I feel that I’ve really gotten involved in the Hackley Community. As a sophomore class representative, I’ve had the opportunity to assist in planning major events such as Snowball and Field Day, as well as smaller tasks such as selling candy grams at lunch. On a smaller scale, I’ve contributed to the sophomore class community by organizing a class movie night with my fellow council members, as well as spearheading the distribution of class merchandise in the beginning of the year. In addition, I participate in the performing arts as a member of the female chorus, as well as taking part in Coffeehouses throughout the year. Finally, I always try my best to support my friends and fellow Hackley students by attending sports games, plays, and other student events.

What are your goals if elected?

If elected, my main goal is to plan more events for the junior class. I can’t even begin to count the number of times I’ve heard my peers say, “I don’t remember one thing council has done” or “council doesn’t do much”. To correct this, I want to enlist the entire class’s help in planning activities that they’ll enjoy and be enthusiastic about. Implementing a system in which council regularly seeks ideas and approval from the students will help facilitate a sense of community in which everyone can feel included, supported, and enjoy their junior year.

Name: Paul Peruzzi

Junior Class Presidential Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

Because I would bring creative outside the box ideas and enthusiasm to council meetings and council organized events.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I have played on a Hackley varsity team, frequently attended school games and stings, contributed to Hackley related charity activities, and lead a popular club.

What are your goals if elected?

To bring lots of enthusiasm, creative ideas, and hard work to council meetings and events to better and strengthen our community.

Name: Grant Albright

Junior Class Representative Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I would be a good candidate for the position of class representative because I feel that I have so many ideas on how to better the Hackley community, and also make it more fun.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I really want to say I’ve done a lot for the community, but I feel that by participating in the play, playing sports, and being an ambassador has not exactly done so much for Hackley as it has for me.

What are your goals if elected?

I believe getting this position will allow me to contribute to the Hackley community, because I know my ideas can bring people together. If elected to this position, I want to be able to bring the Hackley community together by setting up activities as events that allows everyone to appreciate every aspect of the Hackley life (the arts, sports, etc.)

Name: Amy Chalan

Junior Class Representative Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I would be a good candidate for this position because I am experienced, passionate, and responsible. I have been on Community Council since freshman year and I have loved the 2 years I’ve been on council. I have been a grade representative and am currently the sophomore class president. In my time with council, I’ve learned how to successfully organize events for my peers and how to communicate with school officials in order to get help to carry out the events. I’ve also learned how to handle responsibility and a leadership role throughout my experience on council. In addition, I am club leader of the Hudson Scholars Club and have learned how to organize events for the scholars and their families as well as how to be a leader for them and inspire a love for learning. I have learned to be responsible as a leader throughout my work with the scholars and throughout my position on Council. I am also passionate about my work on Community Council and with the Hudson Scholars Club. I will dedicate hours to working on planning events for Council, putting together Candy Grams, and finding volunteers for reunions with the scholars. I try to put my all into projects that I love, and I have dedicated myself to Community Council since freshman year and hope to be elected as representative to be able to improve Hackley student life.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

These past two years I have contributed to or organized the Advisory fashion show, US bonfire, Snowball, concession stands at games, Candy Grams, Field Day 2016, the first annual Haunted House, and movie night for my class. I created a system to package the candy grams and deliver them successfully as well as constantly email teachers and Hackley members to coordinate Council events. My biggest project this year has been spearheading the T Shirt Contest to create Hackley merchandise to sell to the students. If elected as class representative, I would want to work hard with the president to restructure and organize a new Field Day with more intermixing of upper and lowerclassmen and improve the winter formal, Snowball. One of my goals is to foster friendship throughout all grades, and I would accomplish this by improving Field Day as well as First Friday, and fundraising more money for Snowball to improve decorations and the atmosphere at the dance. I would also like to have a Fun Week following exams with a movie night and grade activity to celebrate the end of a grueling month focused around studying.  

What are your goals if elected?

Name: Zaya Gooding

Junior Class Representative Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I would be a good candidate for this position because I am dedicated, a people-person, and capable of following the responsibilities that I am given.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I am the AGSA publicist. I am responsible for managing our Instagram account, posting announcements on Facebook, and designing and printing flyers. I also sometimes help come up with meeting ideas.

What are your goals if elected?

My main goal is to make the class of 2019 have the best year yet. I often hear adults say that high school is supposed to be the best years of your life, and I want to make that true for the class of 2019. If I am able to contribute to making high school at least a tiny bit better for my class, my goal will be accomplished.

Name: Varun Krishna

Junior Class Representative Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I want to be the voice of my grade. I want to be able to make sure that everyone’s ideas and concerns are heard thought about. I think that I have great leadership skills. I am able to get a group of people to focus on a particular task, and I always have a positive and encouraging attitude. I have been told that I am a good, patient and nonjudgmental listener.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I have contributed to the Hackley community in many ways. I am a leader of the Round Square club through which I have encouraged many middle and upper school students to step out of their comfort zones at take risks by traveling away from home. I have also been an admissions ambassador and have had the opportunity to welcome new faces to campus. On a smaller scale, I am never happy to see someone alone at lunch, I either go and sit with them, or invite them to my table.

What are your goals if elected?

Some of my goals as Grade Representative include getting the voter turnout to increase since in both 8th and 9th grade the turnout was only 46%. I would also like to get attendance to all events, such as coffee houses, the sports stings, and the plays to increase. Also, I would like to possibly get more field trips throughout the year.

Name: Natalie Sukhman

Junior Class Representative Candidate

Why would you be a good candidate for this position?

I would be a good candidate for the Class of 2019’s grade representative because of my strong leadership and organization skills, and my extensive experience planning events. I love creating activities and being in charge, and I have some great ideas that I think our grade and council would benefit from.

What have you done for the Hackley Community?

I am involved in numerous clubs and activities at Hackley. I play JV tennis, am a student ambassador, and write articles for and am an editor on The Dial. Having some of my closest friends be current members of Community Council, I have had the opportunity to assist in many of Council’s activities such as the sophomore movie night, candy and turkey grams, and helping out with concessions at football games and the seasonal Stings.

What are your goals if elected?

If elected to be grade rep, I would do my best and work hard to create fun, unique, and exciting events for the class to ensure we have the best junior year ever. Currently I believe one of the issues that council has planning events that the grade is interested in and excited for is the communication skills.  For whatever reason, it seems that there is a disconnect between what the grade wants and what council actually puts forth, and one of my goals is to make an easy and clear way to get ideas from the class and promote attendance to said events. Because every other grade has one, I want to create a space specifically for juniors, a place for us to hang out, study, chat, or even sleep. I think it’s important for our grade to bond and be a cohesive and united group we need to spend more time together as a grade, and another one of my ideas I would propose if elected is a “lock in” sleepover-style night at school. I think this would promote bonding within our grade, and a chance for us to really get to know each other because even after nearly two years or more together, I think we can all make even more of an effort to understand each other and connect.