The following students are seeking election as class representatives: Mitchell Kazmierzak, Luke Matthys, Kristi Tingwald, Keaton Smith, Carmelo Martino Russo, Mylia Vigue, Jade Safeukui-Nobissi, Gabby Trinter, and Lexi Juday. Below is more on why these candidates are seeking your vote:

Mitchell Kazmierzak

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

I want to be a rep. for my class so students’ voices are heard and so I can bring ideas to the table. I make sure to do my best to make sure an idea is made out of something at Student Government meetings.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

The role of a rep. at Saint Joe would look like putting in ideas for dress down days and spirit week and also addressing concerns or thoughts from other students. I see myself contributing to this leadership team by making the school a happier place to come to and making spirit week fun.

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

The biggest challenge for students today at our school is students trying to get the help they need. I see this everyday by students not getting enough instructions on assignments  or even help with homework; I’ll help students that need help on assignments and projects so they can achieve something great.

Kristi Tingwald

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

As a rising senior, I believe being a representative of my class in this, the year of our graduation, to be among the most significant honors one could have in high school. I think it is because, after years of Catholic social teaching, I am conditioned to hearing the call of service in my community. To me, such efforts start by serving those that I spend the most time with – my fellow classmates at Saint Joe. In addition, as a senior, I believe I have an obligation to serve as a role model to other underclassmen, and especially incoming freshmen. In summary, I would look forward to being a leader that younger students look up to in the same way I admired the juniors and seniors in my freshman year.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

I envision being a representative as being a mouthpiece for my entire class on issues that are of importance to all of us. While some topics may be an obvious part of this role – such as addressing school spirit or taking an active role in planning special events – I understand additional issues are unpredictable in nature. Therefore, I must be ready to listen to my fellow classmates when these unknown situations arise. Finally, I believe a Saint Joe leader is an individual who strives to engage students in the Catholic faith. Given my lifetime of Catholic school education, I’m confident in my abilities to lead in this area.

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

I believe one of the greatest challenges students face as they enter the latter years of high school is prepping to attend college while making sure the process does not overwhelm them or their parents. Having an older sister, I was able to see first hand the tension that can arise when planning for this important stage in life. While a certain amount of stress is natural and understandable, I know it sometimes felt like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. Therefore, I think we should consider forming support groups for students and parents going through this process. Such efforts would ensure there is always someone to talk to who understands your thoughts and feelings since they too are experiencing the same emotions. 

Keaton Smith

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

    There is an invisible barrier within our school. It is something that affects every person in every grade. Whether it be students, staff, or faculty we all are affected. It is a barrier of disunion maintained by poor communication and closed door policies. We cannot expect proper representation from a system that fails us by promoting selfish behavior for achieving a position to further one’s college application. A proper system would represent the student body of our school. We cannot expect an election based on popularity to bear the fruits of union and communication. We are not passive beings, we are beings who desire to be heard and represented. I simply wish to mend the flaws within our current system so that the other students may be heard.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

    The current student government is capable of being much more. Ideally the system would be based on elected officials who were chosen for their integrity and character. However, when we are obsessed with our own ego we fail other responsibilities in doing so. When someone takes leadership they must serve their classmates, rather than serving their own image. It is the student government’s job to ensure that it truly represents the students’ needs and desires. I will reverse this trend within our elections as being a candidate who promises to deliver on making their classmates’s voices heard.

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

    There are many challenges that every student faces within our school, but the largest one is the lack of representation. When someone is not represented they are quickly surrounded by loneliness and begin to develop a distaste towards the student government and the school itself. This is a complex challenge that cannot be solved by one person, but rather our community as a whole. We must come to a consensus that the student council is about representing the entire student body, rather than the voices of a few. If I were elected I’d spend a large amount of time simply sitting down and talking to our fellow classmates, so that their voices may be heard. We cannot represent our classmates if we do not know how they feel. 

     Representation is further diminished by the lack of proper communication within the student government. Poor communication between grade levels and others within the student council adds delay and inaccuracy to decisions. As representative I will ensure to talk to our student body in order to better understand the issues they encounter to improve representation of the student body.

Carmelo Martino Russo

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

I would like to be a representative because I am trying to broaden the reach of my social abilities. I know that the senior class president is responsible for connecting my graduating class back together for all of the reunions. I think that I am a fantastic social media advocate with positive and lasting relationships with many of my fellow classmates. I would like to make sure I stay engaged in my senior year and I think that being involved in the school especially with end of year activities will be a great way to do this. I would also like to have been extremely active at my time at St. Joe and one of the things that I have not yet done is be a part of the student council and I think that this is a great and influential program to join and I am disappointed in myself for not joining earlier. I have also been thinking about going into public office and I think that something like this would be a great start to possibly going down that path.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

I think that the officer should be the mediator between students and school. Seeing as I am with my classmates every day that I am in school I am fully immersed in their ideas and opinions. I think that I have a gift to listen to all people and find the best way to articulate and orchestrate their ideas. I think that officer should have their own ideas (which I do) and also be able to incorporate the ideas of others into my own. I can see myself helping facilitate the end of year festivities not to mention the reunions. I find myself to be very good at articulating ideas and working with adults. I plan on fine tuning that skill in the next year.

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

I believe that the biggest challenge is a lack of communication. I can say personally that I would have a hard time reaching out to anyone on student council. I feel like the current committee does not reach out to their classmates. I think that we should have better out of school communication as well. I think that the people representatives of each class should also organize service events or events in general out of school. I do not think that I have ever done one of those and I think that not only would it be a great way to get service hours but also think it would be a cool thing to get even closer with my senior classmates before we leave. I will plan on doing these things by establishing a strong communication between me and the students and also being more engaged in out of school activities involving my class.

Mylia Vigue

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

After developing an affinity for Student Council and what it stands for as a club during my time as a representative I want to be an officer in order to continue to help serve the community. I had a lot of fun during my Junior year on student council and learned a lot of valuable lessons. I enjoyed speaking to my peers about issues they had and being able to participate in a space that allows a voice for the student body. I was able to strengthen my relationship with my peers and, in turn, my community during my time as a representative through communicating on issues as well as simply spending time with each other planning dances and other school activities. I want to be an officer in order to be able to continue building upon these experiences I have been granted the chance to have while also having more of a part in the student council.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

I believe that by representing the needs of the Senior class and acting as a liason between the grade and the school as a whole. I think a class Rep. should be welcoming and equally representative of every member of their class. I see myself contributing to this team through my ability to communicate, my dedication to bettering myself and those around me, as well as offering a smile or a joke to those around me. 

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

I believe the biggest challenge facing students at Saint Joe is the lack of unity within the community. I think being an adolescent in high school and growing up in such an ever-changing social environment makes it difficult to feel safe to be oneself let. I think Saint Joe is lacking in fostering an environment in which all students feel apart of a bigger body rather than feeling pitted against each other. I think this attitude can be fostered by offering my voice as officer to express voices that would be overlooked. An easy solution is fostering a sense of school community through celebrating ALL student activities and interests rather than just football and basketball. Ultimately, the best way I will help my peers face this challenge is by offering the resources I have to provide and my influence on the council to ensure that people feel they are being heard and that they are included in this synonymous Saint Joe identity.

Jade Safeukui Noubissi 

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?
   1. I’ve actually wanted to run for officer since I was a freshman but I had a hard time getting out of my shell. Sophomore year was really hectic with Covid and I still wasn’t comfortable to run yet. The main reason I would like to run for office is to get out of my comfort zone and take on a leadership role that I can give the dedication my class deserves. In my three years at St. Joe, I’ve grown as a person, academically and in my faith. Recently, I’ve made the decision to be a leader and not hide behind the scenes. I believe I have the attitude and mannerism to be a responsible, good, and fair leader to my fellow students.
2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?
   1. The main role of  a representative is to provide representation for their class. What I mean by this is, the voices of the students who are scared to speak up should be heard. This person should be approachable, open , and positive above all else. I want to be that representation for students that feel like their voices aren’t being heard. How I see myself contributing to this is I see myself as a friendly and open person that anyone can come up to and talk to. I can bring a different perspective to the table on issues that aren’t discussed as much. I know that I can contribute a different perspective and bring more to the table.
3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?
   1. The biggest challenge that faces our school today is lack of representation. Many students feel like they can’t speak out on certain topics and issues. I believe that activities like a culture day organized by the students for example, will provide representation for students that want to showcase part of themselves. Yes, there are many other challenges and I’m not saying this is the biggest challenge but all parts of the student body should feel heard. 

Gabby Trinter

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

For starters, I feel that I can adequately communicate the needs and wants of the Senior Class to the board of student council. Throughout my participation as a Freshman and Junior Class Representative, my communication skills have significantly improved. As I have navigated high school and the challenges it presents, I have gained and grown a sense of urgency that I frequently put to use. By employing this skill hand-in-hand with my communication skills, I will be able to address and resolve the most pressing issues here at St. Joe High School.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

The role of a St. Joe Rep. should possess and maintain an inventory of characteristics. A leader should be a very aware of both themself and their peers, in the sense that they should prioritize those being represented yet still focusing on personal development. This combination will result in an effective officer because synchronously build and exercise these skills. Innovation and critical thinking is another vital characteristic an officer should retain. It is irrefutable that St. Joe experiences similar issues each year whether it is substandard representation or poor community among students, however by puting innovative thinking to use, these issues will be more adequately addressed and resolved. Finally, it is a necessity that a student government Rep. is civically-minded. This trait is imperative to hold because it ensures that just resolutions to issues are put into practice and that every single student is equally represented and taken into concern during student council discussions. I am not saying that an officer or rep. should only house these characteristics, but they are at the essence of what the role at St. Joe should look like.

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

As a student who has spent much time at St. Joe High events and even observing typical school days, it is conclusive that the community at St. Joe is one of the most prevailing issues that must be rectified. As much as I hate to bring up COVID-19, it is important to note that the community here was much more inviting and encouraging prior to the lockdown. With the isolation that the pandemic instilled, all of the positive aspects of our community at St. Joe have nearly been diminished. Sporting events at St. Joe are an easy and effective way to rebuild the spirit and community at this school. It is undoubted that sporting events such as football and basketball will receive much attention, however there are countless other sports and events that deserve just as much love and appreciation, such as the cross country team and the track and field team. Both of these sports are rigorous and should receive just as much support as other, more mainstream sports. Other extracurriculars that deserve a lot more attention is our quiz bowl team. The St. Joe Quiz Bowl team is hands down one of the most successful teams in St. Joe history. As Senior Class President, I would spread more information, encouragement and promotion of the lesser known extracurriculars. Ultimately, by shedding more light on underappreciated groups at St. Joe, community and school spirit will be fueled and replenished to pre-COVID levels.

Lexi Juday 

1. Why do you want to be an officer or representative of your class?*

I want to be a representative of my class because I feel that I can accurately portray the feelings and opinions of the senior class, and help to make decisions during student government meetings that would best serve the rest of my class. I sincerely enjoyed being a representative this past year, as I enjoy planning things and working with other people to accomplish larger goals. I enjoy sharing my ideas in the activities I’m involved in, and as a representative I would try to make sure everyone’s voice was heard. I try to be as approachable as possible, and as a result of this I like to think people would be able to come to me and voice their opinions or concerns regarding the decisions members of Student Council help to make. Although this past school year was difficult at times with the two school dances we had to plan, I think it was an overall positive experience and I would look forward to carrying that momentum and enthusiasm into my experiences next year.

2. What do you think the role of an officer or representative at Saint Joe should look like? How do you see yourself contributing to this leadership team?*

I think the role of a representative at Saint Joe should include being able to work well with and listen to the ideas of other people, having consistent attendance and communication, and fostering an environment where everyone’s opinions feel valued and heard. I would be willing to do all three of these things as a representative for the senior class next year. I enjoy working with other people and incorporating their ideas into the problem-solving process when there is a task at hand, and I try my best to remain up-to-date with scheduled meetings and hold myself accountable to showing up on time.

3. What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing the students at our school today? How will you help the student face these challenges?*

I believe some of the biggest challenges facing the students at our school include the lack of communication and disconnect between students and faculty members, and students feeling like their concerns aren’t being listened to by faculty members. With the help of the rest of the senior class student council, I would hope to provide a bridge between students and faculty, and assist in gaining an understanding between the two. I think these conversations are helpful to have, and initiate better communication. To assist in this process, I would make sure to never hesitate to bring an issue or concern up to a staff member or moderator when it is communicated to me. I think I could work as a good mediator in these conversations.