Staff Report
On Wednesday, a home room will be called at the end of third period. From 2:10-2:25, seniors will receive caps and gowns, while juniors, sophomores and freshmen will vote for representatives of the new Student Government Association. Pine Whispers requested information from the candidates so that students might make a more informed choice about whom to elect. Candidates are listed by position in alphabetical order.
SGA Co-Presidents (vote for two)
- Kolbe Adkins
- John Babcock
- Aaron Cooper
- Iyanna Huffington
- Rose Reese
- Nick Salas
SGA Secretary (vote for one)
- Andrea Irving
- Ashley Meise
- Hannah Rice
Senior Class President (vote for one)
- Kira Ford
- Emily Morgan
- Katherine Westcott
Junior Class President (vote for one)
- Megan Almond
- Cayla Clements
- Katya Crawford
- Becca Gwyn
- Joe Faullin
- Hannah Harris
- Will Rogers
Underclassmen President (vote for one)
- Anna Grace Brown
- Taleia Gary
- Bear Higgins
- Rayna Potter
Information provided by the candidates appears below:
Hello, my name is John Babcock. I am a candidate to be your student body co-president. I am president of Key Club, editor of the yearbook, and captain of the soccer team, so I have a lot of leadership experience. I have plenty of experience to guide me through the challenges of being the student body president. I represent Reynolds on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, which is a student committee that discusses issues from our schools with the Superintendent and her staff. This gives me direct access to the Superintendent and a forum to bring issues at Reynolds to the Superintendent. As your student body president, I will work to bridge the gap between the students and the administration. I will make sure the students have a voice in all matters and make sure that everyone is represented. No longer will decisions be made without input from students, and I will work hard to better Reynolds for all.
Hello RJR friends, my name is Aaron Cooper and I am in the running to be your student body co-president. My vision for RJR is to become a school of spirit and camaraderie, a place in which we can all take pride. I want to assist in leading R.J. Reynolds to that vision. As a presidential candidate, it would make sense to list what qualifies me to actually serve as a president. I have held a plethora of leadership positions during my time in high school in addition to representing RJR specifically in numerous ways as well. In my youth group organization, on the city level, I have served as a secretary, vice president of membership, and as a president. On the state level I currently serve as the state president for my youth organization’s North Carolina male members. At RJR I have represented us athletically as a varsity athlete in cross country, track, and tennis. I have served as a student ambassador and a Demon Delegate for freshman orientation and I am treasurer of National Honor Society. This is only an abbreviated list of ways that I have led my peers and I would like to do so even more this upcoming school year. Thanks and vote for Coop!
My name is Iyanna Huffington, and I’m running as a student body co-president candidate. Reynolds holds a special place in my heart and life experience, considering this is the first school that I have attended for more than two years. I can honestly say that begging my mother to let me stay at Reynolds was one of the best decisions of my life. This school has made me realize the actual depth of the passion I have for the arts, in theatre and music performance. I came to this school wanting to be a veterinarian, and now as a rising senior, I strive to be a singer. I am aware that I have been given a chance to have this already amazing high school experience extended, and with this opportunity I want to do something great for the school that has done so much for me the past three years. From my limited knowledge at what goes on at Reynolds, I have noticed a few significant problems around the school, such as late afternoon buses, lack of student-teacher respect (along with lack of respect among peers), and other issues along those lines. Being elected student body co-president will guarantee me — us — an opportunity to shine a light, maybe just a single light, on these problems that we, as a family, face together by telling parents, teachers, and the board of education our issues ourselves instead of assuming they will figure it out.
Ashley Meise: I am excited to run for secretary of the newly reinstated RJR Student Government. It is a thrill to dedicate my skills and talents to making our student government a fun, interactive, and highly functional part of our school. I believe that a healthy student government is an important staple in the running of any school because it allows the student body to communicate directly with administrators, helping to facilitate an atmosphere conducive to learning. I have several qualities that I think make me a good candidate for secretary: I am very organized, have extensive leadership experience, and am a passionate advocate for RJR. As for leadership positions, I have coached a summer league swim team for the past two years, been captain of the RJR swim team, lifeguarded for the last two summers, been a middle school youth group leader, and functioned as historian for Girls Council. I hope that you will agree that I am well prepared to juggle any number of situations, give ample attention to my duties as secretary, and never let anything fall through the cracks.
Hannah Rice: As your student body secretary, I will work my hardest alongside the student body presidents in order to bring students the school environment that they want and need. I am prepared to work hard, be a good listener, and make sure everyone’s voice is heard and accounted for so we may be a student government that is truly representative of the entire student body. I’m excited to see what this next year holds!
###