On April 2, 2018, the 2017-2018 executive Student Council handed over the reins to the incoming leaders of the student body during the traditional Student Council installation ceremony. During this assembly, current Student Council President and senior Samantha Watson addressed the Upper School to share some words of wisdom to the underclassmen.
“And, as we get ready to leave Hockaday, we, too, look up to y’all, our little sisters, and we’re proud to leave our leadership positions in your hands,” Watson said.
The Fourcast asked all new members of Student Council a few questions so that the student body can get to know their elected officials better.
Dominique Buford, President
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday?
I have been involved in Student Council at Hockaday for all three years of Upper School. Freshman year, I was on the athletic board; sophomore year, I was the Form II President; and this year I am the Form III President.
What motivated you to run for your position?
Over this past few years, I have thoroughly enjoyed being apart of student Council and working with the executive council and administration to work on amazing projects such as Spirit Weeks, STUCO Mixer, and Winter Formal. Specifically, I decided to run for Upper School President because I knew it would be a very challenging yet very rewarding position that would allow me to collaborate with all the boards, form presidents, and administrative representatives to ensure a very successful 2018-2019 school year.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year?
I am most looking forward to overseeing Student Council and working with all of the board representatives/grade represents to make it a fantastic year! One of the main things that we have worked on over the past couple of years that I’ve been involved in Student Council is board collaboration, and I look forward to continuing that idea in the upcoming school year.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “The Office” or “Grey’s Anatomy”
Where do you like to study on campus? Mrs. Chu’s room
Natalie Lanners, Vice President
How long have you been involved in student council at Hockaday? This is actually my first year being involved in student council at Hockaday.
What motivated you to run for your position? I have always wanted to run for Student Council, and I hope to better the Upper School experience for everyone. Since I have been at Hockaday since Pre-K, I want to give back to the Hockaday community because it has influenced who I am today.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am really excited to plan the Club Fair next year. I have many different ideas on how to organize the function.
What is your favorite song right now? “Remind Me to Forget” by Kygo
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Modern Family”
Arushi Mukherjee, Treasurer
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? This is my first year on student council.
What motivated you to run for your position? I’ve always wanted to be on student council because I love doing hands-on things that will make a difference.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am most looking forward to the JRP. So looking forward to that. But also equally excited to make those lunch playlists for y’all.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “How to Get Away With Murder”
What is a hobby or interest that you have that your peers might not know about? I have a hobby for baking. Unfortunately, not good at it though, so don’t ask me for cookies because they will be burnt.
Barbara Lou, Secretary
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? The 2018-19 school year will be my second year in student council. I am currently the Parliamentarian of Student Executive Council, and I will be the Secretary of the same council next year.
What motivated you to run for your position?After a year of experience in student council, I truly enjoy what we do and want to continue my journey in Student Council. I have learned from girls of all positions in student council, and I know exactly what the job for Secretary will be, so I decided to run for it.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am looking forward to meeting new people on the council, being a part of all the exciting things that student council organizes and having a busy sophomore year running between meetings.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Friends”
What teacher has the best classroom? Dr. Wohlgehagen
Meghna Jain, Academic Council
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I have been on student council for all of upper school, so next year will be my fourth year. For the past three years, I have been a grade representative on the Academic Council, so I’m excited to be president next year.
What motivated you to run for your position? Since I have been on the Academic Council since freshman year, I knew I had a lot of experience planning all of the events it has, so I thought I would be a good candidate. I also wanted to try to spread the message that academics doesn’t have to be stressful and all about tests and grades. Learning can be fun.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am excited to plan more movie screenings! Those are always really popular events and a time to relax while still watching something semi-educational.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Grey’s Anatomy”
What is a hobby or interest that you have that your peers might not know about? I love to paint.
Meredith Jones, Athletic Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I have been a grade representative on the Athletic Board for the past three years.
What motivated you to run for your position? Hockaday sports has been a huge part of my life and family but I feel as if athletics is underrepresented as a cornerstone and I want to help make it a bigger part of our community.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I’m looking forward to more spirit games and green outs and some awesome pep rallies.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “The Office”
Where do you like to study on campus? I don’t really study on campus because, you know, sports but catch me in the weight room for morning lifts.
Bianca Schwimmer, Community Service Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I’ve been on the Community Service Board at Hockaday since my freshman year, and also participated in the middle school section of the board in eighth grade.
What motivated you to run for your position? Ever since freshman year, I have been incredibly inspired by all of the amazing work that the Community Service Board chairs have done for Hockaday, and the huge impact that student volunteers have on the Dallas community. I was motivated to run for community service chair so that I would be able to build upon the accomplishments of past chairs by expanding the community outreach program to involve younger students, as well as utilizing feedback in order to make the volunteer experience as rewarding and meaningful as possible.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I’m really excited to work with the rest of the board to plan the all-school Day of Service next year. One of my goals is to involve Lower and Middle School more in community service, and I hope to be able to do that through activities such as the Day of Service next year.
Where do you like to study on campus? My two favorite places to study on campus are in the Fine Arts Balcony and in Mrs. Chu’s room.
What is a hobby or interest that you have that your peers might not know about? I love being outdoors and going on canoe trips. I have been going to a canoe tripping camp in Canada every summer since I was seven, and have spent 127 days on canoe trip throughout my time there.
Arianna Easter, Convocations Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? This is my first year being involved in student council at Hockaday.
What motivated you to run for your position? I wanted to be more involved with my grade during senior year and to help bring us closer together.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I’m looking forward to helping with our assemblies whether it’s the smaller details or the actual assembly itself. I’m also excited to greet and dismiss all of the upper school students from the assemblies.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Total Drama Action” or “The Vampire Diaries”
What is your favorite song right now? “Broken Clocks” by SZA
Ashna Ahuja, Honor Council
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I’ve been on the Honor Council for three years as my form representative.
What motivated you to run for your position? I decided to run for the Honor Council for the first time in freshman year because I really wanted to be an active member of the student body, and I have always valued honesty and trust in the community. I ran for President this year because I truly believe that the work we do on the Council improves the school by encouraging positive student-teacher relations.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I’m really looking forward to de-mystifying a lot of what the Honor Council does and displaying how we are an educating body, rather than a punitive one. I hope to do this by implementing a school-wide meme contest as well as planning the Honor Council assembly.
What is a hobby or interest that you have that your peers might not know about? Baking
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Grey’s Anatomy”
Kate Short, Fine Arts Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? This is my first year in Student Council.
What motivated you to run for your position? I have always had a passion for the arts, and I want to bring what I can to Hockaday’s already amazing arts and make the board as active as possible.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am excited to come up with new ideas of what the board can do and to run Coffeehouse.
Where do you like to study on campus? By the amphitheater on a sunny day
What is your favorite song right now? “Helplessness Blues” by Fleet Foxes
Charlotte Dross, Fourcast Editor
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? Next year will be my first year on Student Council.
What motivated you to run for your position? I have always loved writing and had an interest in journalism. I joined Fourcast sophomore year and have really enjoyed not only the ways that I have been able to hone my skills as a writer, but the amazing experiences and friendships I have made as well. I was motivated to run for editor because I want to continue putting out great papers like the ones I have seen as a member of the staff.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am most looking forward to redesigning the layout of the paper and adding my own spin to it.
Where do you like to study on campus? The table at the entrance to the second floor of the library
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “American Horror Story”
Tanvi Kongara, Student Diversity Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I have been on Student Diversity Board since my freshman year, an intern my freshman year and a board member my sophomore and junior year.
What motivated you to run for your position? Being part of the Student Diversity Board these past three years has made me become more aware of diversity stigmas that exist in not only the Hockaday community but also the general community that we need to combat. I decided to apply for Student Diversity Board Chair because I am passionate about the board’s mission to provide a safe environment for diversity-related discussions.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? Student Diversity Board is unique in the fact that we host three forums every school year that pertain to a wide range of social issues. I am very excited to see what the 2018-2019 Student Diversity Board will choose for the forums’ topics.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Gilmore Girls”
What teacher has the best classroom? Dr. Andre Stipanovic
JoJo Gum, Student Relations Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I was the sophomore representative for the Convocations Board and the junior representative for the Student Relations Board.
What motivated you to run for your position? I feel like I know a lot of the student body and I want to help make the 2018-19 year one where we all come together.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am super excited for everyone to get to know their big or lil sis.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Scrubs”
What is your favorite song right now? “Play That Song” by Train
Emily Ma, Tech Board
How long have you been involved in Student Council at Hockaday? I have been part of Student Council since Freshman year as Technology Board representative.
What motivated you to run for your position? I enjoyed being a part of Tech Board. I always learn something new related to technology. My experiences in the past three years made me realized that Technology is really fun and interesting, and it is definitely a big part of students’ and teachers’ lives at Hockaday.
What are you most looking forward to in the upcoming school year? I am excited to learn more technologies that are getting innovated. As Tech Board Chair, I will lead my team to help brainstorm ideas that will make the best use of all our technology resources.
What is your favorite show to binge watch? “Game of Thrones”
What teacher has the best classroom? Dr. Sarah Traphagen
Story and photos by Mary Orsak, Special Magazine Editor
