Senior Class Candidates
April 24, 2017
Name: Eli Hankin
Senior Class Presidential Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I participate in a lot of extracurriculars and am part of a lot of friend groups throughout all of the different grades at Hackley and I think that puts me in touch with the student body, and enables me to make good decisions for council. I have also been on council for a year and know the ins and outs/ how to get stuff done. I am practical and do my job every time I am supposed to. Most importantly I care a lot about Hackley and care what mark I leave on the school when I leave. I am also on campus all the time which makes me super available.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I am on UNITY which helps with issues pertaining to diversity/equity at Hackley. I am also president of midnight run which delivers food to people in NYC, and have been on both varsity lacrosse and soccer since sophomore year. I also am a big supporter of, and have attended almost every sports game at Hackley.
What are your goals if elected?
To host fun and unifying events for our grade, and to try to make everyone at Hackley enjoy their time more through student run events. I think the most important things council can do is 1. Help people enjoy their time at Hackley/create systems in which that is possible and 2. Unify their specific grade/school together to make Hackley a stronger community.
Name: Sean Malcolm
Senior Class Presidential Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
Obviously, I would be a great candidate for this position. First I care for my community in so many ways. I would probably do anything to help one of you and I am dedicated to the well-being of our wonderful grade. I have also worked alongside of some great leaders and have learned from their leadership to become a better leader. I also care for my community so much. Also, I have come up with some amazing ideas to better our community and make Hackley a better place. My 24th reason I would be a great president is because I work hard at achieving my goals and will overcome anything to achieve a better community for all of you.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
There are just so many ways that I have contributed to the Hackley community and could not list them all here. One thing that I can add Is that I have filled my time up being at Hackley whether on a sports team or in the classroom and made sure that I could get the most out of the Hackley experience and this is the one thing left on my road to becoming Hackley’s biggest contributor. If I could list the top contributors to the Hackley community it would probably be: 1- Mr. McLay 2- the Allen Family 3- Sean Malcolm. So, unless Mr McLay or the whole Allen family is running for the presidency, I am your greatest bet.
What are your goals if elected?
I think I can sum up all my goals to just making the world a better place which is is an understatement to what I can do if I were given the dictatorial power of presidency. If I were elected to this position I would give the power back to the people from the communist and corrupt people in Washington. I will make jobs and bring the love the Hackley community needed. But just think about all the cool ideas that were already thought of and mine are better. Just think of what we can do when we come together and vote Sean. P.S. Also, I would like to change the voting process because no one remembers their Quia password, just a thought.
Name: Ben Moskow
Senior Class Presidential Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I want to be the change I wish to see in council. Having never been on council before, I believe I could bring some much-needed fresh blood to meetings. I will speak for the people and will fight hard to see that the Class of 2018 is satisfied with Council. I tend to get along well with people so I promise to balance advocating for the grade with working together with other members of Council. I will not treat Council as simply another activity in my schedule, but will show a strong commitment to the position of class president, because first and foremost, I want to make my senior year, and most importantly the senior year of my fellow classmates, the best it can be.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I’ve run a page called Humans of Hackley since the beginning of sophomore year, which gives people an opportunity to share stories with the entire upper school community and me an opportunity to socialize with people I wouldn’t normally socialize with. As a result, I have a good feel for the Hackley community. I have been a student ambassador since freshman year. I’ve performed at almost every Coffeehouse since frosh year. I’m also a Peer Advisor and have plans senior year to do sports broadcasting of athletic events. One final note: I helped film Akash’s promposal last year. It was sick.
What are your goals if elected?
One of my primary goals is to revive the President’s Ball which was tragically cancelled in the 2015-2016 school year. I thought this was a fantastic idea and it’s disappointing that Council was unable to recreate it this year. It would make me so psyched if we had students and local artists performing on Pickert Field in front of a packed student section while food trucks line the parking lot down below. In addition, I would like to emphasize quality over quantity when planning council events. While it is nice to always have stuff going on, Council does not have unlimited resources and I know my peers have busy schedules. I believe that being able to plan a few memorable events would have a greater net impact on the community than several decent ones. I also would like to install garbage cans and recycling bins at either end of the “junior path” before the athletic construction is over so people can throw out their bottles, etc. I believe this will help incentivize the beautification of campus and make everyone’s days a little bit brighter. More ideas to come…just you wait.
Name: Patrick Walker
Senior Class Presidential Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I have served as class president for my grade for the past three years and I definitely understand the type of leadership and responsibility this position requires. I consider myself more reserved than outgoing in group discussions but I have learned to progressively contribute more and more to council ideas over my three years as grade president. I also believe I am a great communicator with my classmates through our Facebook group and homeroom announcements about upcoming council events. Furthermore, myself and the other junior representatives have been a great team and perfect group of kids to properly represent our community and the 11th grade this year, and I know that this type of bond will help us be so successful next year as seniors. Lastly, I know how to represent the needs of my classmates in the best way possible because I have been doing it throughout all of high school. I make it my job, not just as a council representative, but as a person, to make sure everyone’s questions, comments, and concerns are answered to the fullest.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I am lifer at Hackley and for that reason, have been a part of its community for so long. As a council member I have contributed tremendously to all sorts of events and creative ideas for the last three years. This year I played a key role in our Haunted House, Snowball, selling of candy grams, and creation of the new Hackley T-shirt design. Prior to snowball, for example, we created a YouTube video featuring me asking someone to the snowball to promote the dance. The video was a huge success and encouraged lots of kids to attend the event. At the dance, I brought lots of desserts and decorations to help make the event a great time. During preparation, Michael, Eli, and I spent the majority of the time setting up all the lights from the top that circled around the whole PAC. After completing this, we helped out with the arrangement of chairs, tables, blowing of balloons, and more at the bottom. And at the end of the night, when most people left, I was one of 5 people to stay the extra 30-45 minutes and clean up a successful dance. Also, smaller grade-wide event I created for my grade this year was the grade-wide Secret Santa gift exchange. We had never done an event like this before in our grade and kids loved it. It was more than just giving and receiving gifts, it encouraged people to talk to others they wouldn’t normally encounter. It brought the whole grade together in a way that was great to see. Lastly, outside of community council, every coffee house I always help out with the setting up and cleaning up chairs and tables. Preparing for an event like that can require a lot of help so I’m always happy to do what I can.
What are your goals if elected?
If elected to this position I want to do big things that have never been done before. I don’t want to just say I’m going to do them like most presidents say during their campaigns, but I actually want to follow through with my word. Although events like snowball, the selling of candy grams and turkey grams, and sprit week are examples of big hits for council, I want to establish newer traditions that I can leave behind on the hilltop. These ideas could consist of ping pong tournaments, spikeball tournaments, FIFA tournaments on field days, school wide gift exchanges, and more ideas to come. I also feel like I am a great communicator with my class but as a president of the whole school it is going to be much harder to gather everyone’s opinions. That’s why during the community council emails to the entire upper school I want to have a “reply” section that allows students to address certain questions, comments, and concerns regarding anything and have it be sent straight to me. That way I can get a much better idea of what each individual person is thinking and successfully fulfill the needs of each upper schooler.
Name: Chiara Calov
Senior Class Representative Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
This year I was a new Hackley student. Despite coming in late, as an 11th grader, I made a quick adjustment to the Hackley community. From the first day of preseason in the summer, everyone was extremely welcoming and genuinely happy. Because of the positive atmosphere around me, I wanted to interact with the Hackley community as much as possible, therefore I made a great effort to stay involved with the athletic, academic, and social events on campus. As the year has gone by, I look back on it pleasantly, knowing I have become part of a truly amazing group of people. I enjoy participating in Hackley events and doing all I can to extend and represent the community. When I speak to people about Hackley, I always refer to it as the ‘happy place.’ I think I would be a good candidate for this position, because I would have a strong focus on welcoming new families into the Hackley community, while sustaining and furthering relationships with existing families. Currently, I have personal, active, and open connections/communication with faculty and my peers. I believe I could take a leadership position to effectively voice the opinions of my peers. Additionally, since I am new, I would be able to bring a unique and broadened perspective to the table, while still embodying true Hackley principles.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I have only been part of the Hackley community for around 7 months now, therefore I cannot speak in lengths about how I have contributed. However, approaching things from a different perspective, there are a few aspects I have brought forth. Although I have not benefitted the community with initiatives, clubs, etc, I think my character may have an impact on those around me. During first Friday speeches, I was open and honest with my classmates about my negative experiences in the past. I wrote the speech as a tribute to them, thanking them for making the start to my Hackley career beyond amazing and standing by me while I watched things finally fall into place, after watching them fall apart for so long. In that speech, I attempted to remind my classmates the power they have as individuals to lift up and encourage those around them, as they did with me. Daily, I try to positively impact/help people in the Hackley community, because they have done so much for me. I have contributed in the sense of representing a character/integrity that I believe everyone should have. My peers encourage me to want to be a better person, and I attempt to bring those around me up, so they want to pass forward that hora.
In regard to literal contributions to the community, I am currently planning two projects/initiatives that I am hoping to implement. I am going to start a collection of lightly used athletic year to donate to an Ecuadorian community around Tarrytown (inspired by the Hackley trip I am going on to Ecuador this summer). Lastly, I would like to execute an initiative within the new athletic facility that is centered around using green energy to reduce global warming/climate change.
What are your goals if elected?
If elected to this position, I would like to be a strong role model to the students in the Hackley community, while being a reliable leader who is able to convey+act on the thoughts/opinions of the students. My main goal is to be welcoming to all people (as they were to me) while up keeping and bettering the concept of Hackley being a place where you can enter to be and find a friend. I would also like to 1) develop more initiatives to make Hackley a more environmentally friendly (green) community 2) create a system that makes it easier for students to remain caught up on lessons when they are absent (maybe a portal accessible to students through HOL with recorded class discussions from the day or recaps of the day’s class lessons) 3) organize further collective service projects that make it easy for Hackley students to go out into the community together- beyond with just clubs 4) have field days (like a class olympics) on the days of fall and winter sting.
Name: Paul Lapey
Senior Class Representative Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I have experience on council, I was a grade rep 2 years ago. When I was a grade rep, I went to almost every meeting and played a role in helping organize events like the snowball and stings. Because of this experience on council, I think I have a pretty good idea of the challenges that face the council and what is realistic for the community council to achieve. Unfortunately, Community Council is limited by the Hackley administration which will shut down any ideas that they suspect to be too fun or too dangerous, and by financial limitations. There is not a lot that can be done about the first limitation except to consistently push to try to get things to be allowed, but I think by planning the right events and by selling the right items Community Council can be much less limited by funding this year.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I was a grade rep in 9th grade, and I attended almost every meeting that year in addition to helping organize and set up major council events. Aside from that, other than occasionally attending sports games and school events and helping out with some clubs, I probably have not done as much as I could have, which is part of why I want to run for council this year.
What are your goals if elected?
I would like to try to create more events that people actually want to go to, since as of right now I think people are tired of movie nights and gym nights. From my experience as a grade rep I know what types of events will and will not be allowed by Hackley, and although this limitation is not really one that any Hackley students really agree with, it is unfortunately one that we have to deal with. Nevertheless, with attendance to movie nights and gym nights at an all-time low, I think with enough from students and council that Hackley may be able to be persuaded to loosen its restrictions on what types of events are “acceptable” to be run by council. I’m not promising a Casino night where people could bet with real money, because although that would be incredibly cool there’s no chance that Hackley would want to support unlicensed and potentially illegal gambling on its campus. However, I think that an event where people purchase tickets and can use those tickets to play card games with the potential to win more tickets and later trade them in for Hackley gear or other prizes could be more realistic and draw a higher turnout. If Hackley can allow people to gamble real money on raffle tickets, they should allow this too. I also would like to try to bring back an event that happened in two years ago when I was on council, where there was a game night at school where people could play games like Mario Kart and other multiplayer games. Although this is not likely to be an event that would draw a lot of people, the people who were there seemed to really enjoy it and it is not an event that would require too much planning and funding for council.
Name: Ijeoma Nwokorie
Senior Class Representative Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I think I would be a good candidate because I truly believe that I have the student body’s best interest at heart. Having never run for a position on council can be an advantage or a disadvantage, depending on how you look at it. I understand and empathize with the general sentiment of the student body because I have been a part of it for the past 7 years. I see from the perspective of someone who is not on council and I feel that that can benefit me if I’m elected.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
During my career at Hackley I have become an ambassador, played on three varsity sports, and this past year I was a peer advisor. Each job is extremely different and requires different skill sets required to do each. I think that I can take those skills that I’ve learned and apply them well to Council. I’d like to think that I’ve made a small, but positive contribution so far at school and through Community Council I feel that I could enlarge that contribution even more.
What are your goals if elected?
If elected, hopefully, I would be able increase the current representation by the junior (future senior) class in community council. I know our contribution as a whole has been a bit underwhelming and I feel that by running I am doing service not only to my grade, but my community and myself as well. Personally, I would like to try something different here at Hackley while I still can. In my time here, I have never run for a community council position and I think it could be a great way to get involved with planning events and activities that I already love attending as a student.
Name: Georgia Panitz
Senior Class Representative Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I think I would be a good candidate for grade rep because I have been a dedicated member of community council for my entire high school and middle school career, and I have always been willing and able to offer my help to ensure that all council sponsored events are successful. I know what needs to be done in order to make certain events happen, such as who to contact for approval, what is needed for the event, and how to get all of Council’s members involved and motivated so that things happen in a timely and orderly fashion. Throughout my three years in high school as a member of Council, I have made a concerted effort to help as much as I can with all council sponsored events and participate actively during all of our council meetings. I have helped with numerous concession stands, events such as movie night, assisted as a part of the snowball decoration committee and helped set up for the event each year, helped in planning and setting up for the haunted house, and sold candy grams every lunch period I was available. While last year’s Woodstock event did not happen, I helped a lot with the planning and preparation for that as well. I always look forward to council meetings and genuinely enjoy the discussions and efforts which lead to fun events for the student body and community. I have made an effort during all my years on council to reach out to students, whether it be asking people about their opinions on some of council’s ideas, or coming up with the idea to post council updates each week in the 2018 Facebook group in an effort to make sure my peers could be more informed about what is going on in council and have input.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I have contributed to the community by being an active member of Community Council for the past three years and have offered my help and ideas during meetings, as well as helped at all council sponsored events. I have also attended sporting events, music performances, and plays to support my peers and their hard work. During my years on the hilltop, I have also been a member of Hackley’s Varsity Swimming team, a part of community service groups such as Soup Kitchen, a writer and page editor for The Dial, and a member of band and chamber ensembles. Every group and team I have been a part of I have tried to contribute something in the hopes that my efforts in partnership with others would improve life at Hackley.
What are your goals if elected?
While I feel that Council has done a great job this year, this being one of our most successful years yet, I still feel that there is room for further improvements. While Council’s event planning has been successful, I feel that we can plan more events for the student body. I think it would be amazing to implement a system similar to the Middle School’s Hive system, but organized by grade, and have events throughout the year among grades for points. Our end of the year field day would be even more fun as a result because I think people would be more invested and excited to participate in contributing points so that their grade could win the competition for the year. As a part of this new spirit system, Council would host events and activities during break and community times throughout the year as fun things for everyone to get involved in and be a part of which I think could be a great new Hackley tradition. In order to make these things happen, I would implement new organization methods so every member of Council is aware of what is going on and what their part is in making things happen. I think it would be helpful to create a calendar and Google Drive sheet which indicates when dates for events are, when people need to complete tasks by, forms for students to complete if they wish to present an event, and a place to sign up to present their ideas. This would help members stay on top of things and complete their tasks on time, therefore allowing council to be more efficient. I also think we should try to fundraise more by running more concession stands, and also charging students a small fee to go to events like the Color Run or Woodstock (but not Snowball), because with more funds we have more flexibility and ability to plan events. Overall if I were elected I would love to help spearhead a new spirit system as well as implement new organization and communication efforts so that council can plan more fun events for the community.
Name: Maxwell Tannenbaum
Senior Class Representative Candidate
Why would you be a good candidate for this position?
I believe in the longevity of a good community council. I will make sure to speak up in a meeting if I have heard concerns or great ideas from the community. I am willing to not only ask the hard questions, but also create the response and reason behind decisions. I have run multiple high school companies, and understand the fundamentals of fund-raising. I understand how the “”system”” of Hackley works and how to make progress. “”Go forth and spread beauty and light”” are words I see every day. These words speak to my message to spread beauty and light on behalf of our entire community.
What have you done for the Hackley Community?
I have been on Community Council once before as a class agent during my freshman year. I also co-run two influential clubs on the Hilltop, both Next Gen Vest and Hackley Student Investment Group. I also have always voted when given a chance to, and enjoy the plays and musical performances that our community creates. It is not just what I have contributed but what I hope to contribute during our final year at Hackley.
What are your goals if elected?
I will raise school spirit through a 3-step program: Notify, Incentivize, Capitalize.
Notify – make sure everyone will actively know about games and events home or away through daily announcements. Incentivize – students with dress downs, or other perks biased off school spirit and participation. Capitalize – the win streaks of our teams and make it known to everyone through signs and class announcements, because too often do our teams triumph with no one to hear about it. I will develop new funding methods using my experience of running innovative companies. For example: Funding through paid dress down of just $1 can generate over $400 in funding each time. Funding will go towards more events that can be on a smaller scale, including festivities at home games. I want to take student life to a whole new level of fun and excitement, for all of the High School, and possibly have an activity integrating the middle school as well, if not the whole school. For we are a community as an entire school as well, this year I witnessed one of the best performances of the lower school, middle school, and upper school musicians that should be announced and encouraged for other high schoolers to attend as it was an entire community of the Hilltop. Of course, I will make sure that next year is fun and an exciting year for all of us!
