The NCAI community is excited to introduce our new Student Council members for the upcoming year! Before we do, let’s extend a heartfelt round of applause and gratitude to our outgoing Student Council members from the 2023-2024 school year: Rolando Vado, President; Jenner Martinez, Vice President; Livia Ortega, Secretary; Maria Renee, Treasurer; and Natalia Castro, Vocal. They did an excellent job, and we appreciate Mrs. Davila, our former Student Council advisor, for her support.
Now, let’s delve into the exciting details of this year’s election process! Campaigning took place in the third week of May, with candidates employing innovative strategies to gain support. In addition to posters, some candidates created polls where people could commit to voting for them by signing their names. Others distributed goodies like bracelets, candies, horns, hats, and stickers to promote their campaigns. While these gifts were appreciated, the loud noises eventually annoyed some teachers. Also, some candidates had their cheering songs, adding to the competitive spirit.
The competition for various positions this year was intense. Former Vice President Jenner Martinez ran for President against Debora Hernandez, delivering compelling speeches that underscored their dedication to the school. Likewise, the competition for Vice President between former President Rolando Vado and Samantha Gutierrez was amazing, with both candidates showcasing their passion for leadership. The Vocal position also saw stiff competition among Olivia Strong, Miriam Diaz, and Maryam Abuhassan, demonstrating a strong commitment to NCAI.
However, Mia Sequeira was the sole candidate for the Secretary position, and Maria Renee ran unopposed for Treasurer.
Following the Student Council speeches on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, we now proudly present our new Student Council members: Jenner Martinez as President, Rolando Vado as Vice President, Mia Sequeira as Secretary, Maria Renee Solano as Treasurer, and Maryam Abuhassan as Vocal! It’s noteworthy that three out of the five past Student Council members ran again and were successfully re-elected. We extend our congratulations to Mrs. Davila, who continues to serve as our Student Council advisor, and extend a warm welcome to our new advisor, Ms. Cole!
To get a better sense of the vision for the upcoming year, we interviewed our new President, Jenner Martinez:
What was your purpose in rejoining the Student Council as President?
“My purpose was to give something back to this lovely school and community. The NCA community has shaped me into the person I am today, and when considering what to do for my senior year, I wanted to leave by doing something memorable or important for the school. I thought that by winning the position of president, I could serve this school one last time, creating a truly memorable and enjoyable year for each student—a year that they can always cherish in the hearts of NCA students long after I am gone.”
What have you learned from your experience as Vice President?
“I have learned many things as the Vice President, many of them from the mistakes I made. I have learned that to make an event successful, there has to be a whole process of planning to bring the idea to perfection. My team and I have to be patient, and taking things step by step makes the result more satisfactory. I also learned that everything has to be done in an organized manner and primarily on time. By completing tasks on time, we have the opportunity to refine them and focus on other aspects; procrastination can be one’s biggest enemy. Additionally, I learned that every idea should be heard because there is always room to do something different.”
What is your vision for the Student Council this year? What specific goals would you like to achieve?
“My vision for the Student Council this year is to create an awesome and memorable experience for each student. When I am gone, I want them to remember the school year 2024-2025. It would be great to repeat some events that were successful this year, but also to introduce new ones. One of my goals as the president for the upcoming year is to listen to people’s concerns and take action to address them, to advocate for solutions to those issues. I also want to hear people’s ideas and endeavor to incorporate them into future events or activities.”
Lastly, we want to congratulate everyone who ran for Student Council. We hope this was a valuable experience where they learned public speaking and standing up for themselves. Good job to all candidates for having the courage to speak in front of the entire secondary school, parents, and teachers. We encourage those who were not elected this time not to give up and to try again next year, as they will be more confident from this experience.
Congratulations to all! Let’s make the next school year amazing!
