//PICTURED ABOVE: 1. Excited for next year, Vice President Arushi Mukherjee, Convocations Board Chair Ines Guevara and Student Diversity Board Chair Richa Kapoor smile at the camera. 2. Academic Council President Lucy Young, Fine Arts Board Chair Lily Forbes, President Menaka Naidu and Secretary Brooke Adams are beginning to plan for next year.
As this school year continues to wrap up, the 2019-2020 Executive Student Council was elected and is so excited for next year. The Fourcast asked the newly elected students some questions so the student body can get to know them better.
Menaka Naidu, President
Q: How long have you been on the Student Council?
I have been on Student Council for two years! I served as Form II Vice President and Form III Vice President.
Q: What motivated you to run for President?
Seeing the impact of our Form Council initiatives on my grade over the last two years was truly rewarding. It was so nice to see how even a small gesture, such as organizing a grade-wide lunch, could bring so much joy to my grade, while also taking everyone’s minds off of the stress of school. This motivated me to run for Student Council President because I want to expand this effect to the entire Upper School community, and also work closely with fellow students and administration.
Q: What changes are you excited to implement?
I really want to make the Student Council more accessible to students and implement a way that students can directly give their feedback to Stuco. I also want to encourage more collaboration between boards to bring the entire Upper School community closer together.
Q: What is your favorite guilty pleasure movie?
The Proposal.
Q: Best Sage Lunch?
Chicken Parm!
Arushi Mukherjee, Vice President
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
This past year was my first year on stuco, and I’m so excited for my second year!
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I absolutely loved being on stuco this year, from having lunch exec meeting to knowing the Winfo theme to going on the STUCO retreat. The girls on stuco are a squad like no other, and I wanted to do it all again for my senior year. All the memories we made and the fun we had made stuco the best part of my week this year, and I wanted to have that experience again while thinking of new and creative ways to actually help Upper School and the students in it.
Q: What are you most excited for about next year?
I am most excited to see what we will do and what ideas we’ll come up with. A new group of people means a whole different approach and way of thinking about Upper School, and I’m so ready to see what we’re going to do together as a group for the school!
Q: What is your favorite song right now?
My favorite song right now is” Break up with your girlfriend, i’m bored” by Ariana Grande because she is a queen and I love her new album.
Q: What is your favorite place at Hockaday?
My favorite place at Hockaday is the junior hallway because of where it is and there’s enough space to hang out with everyone! It’s sad that we’re almost out of it.
Barbara Lou, Financial officer and Parliamentarian
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
Next year will be my third year.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
What motivated me is the people around me. I love my peers and want to take on the roles of different student council positions. I also know that I have what it takes to do this job well next year and am willing to speak up for my peers.
Q: What are you most excited about for next year?
I am excited to play Friday music next year, and I would love it if people emailed me [email protected] with suggestions!!
Q: What is your favorite Disney Movie?
I have loved Beauty and the Beast since day one.
Q: Sweet or salty snacks?
Sweet. I love desserts.
Brooke Adams, Secretary
Q: How long have you been on student council?
Next year will be my first year on stuco.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I’ve always wanted to hold a leadership position and see what impact I can make in our community.
Q: What are you most excited about next year?
I am most excited to work with other forms and see how stuco works!
Q: The Office or Parks and Recreation?
Most definitely The Office.
Q: What is your favorite Starbucks drink?
Iced Vanilla Latte
Lucy Young, Academic Council President
Q: How long have you been with Student Council?
Since my sophomore year.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I love this school, so I want to be a part of Student Council to contribute to our community.
Q: What are you excited about for next year?
To meet the incoming freshmen that will be on Academic Council!
Q: What is your favorite spot to study on campus?
The cubicles in the library.
Q: What is your favorite show to binge watch?
Gilmore Girls.
Q: What is your favorite book?
Cliché, but Harry Potter.
Margaret Woodberry, Athletic Board Chair
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
I was on the athletic board as a form rep freshman year and I’m super excited to be back on it.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I decided to run because of my school spirit because I love Hockaday but school spirit at sports games is definitely an area where there could be a lot of improvement. I really want people to get excited about going to Hockaday sports games and supporting their peers.
Q: When have you been the most school spirited?
Although some people might argue I was the most spirited dressed up as a daisy, I was definitely at peak school spirit cheering for the volleyball team at SPC.
Q: When you aren’t on the athletic fields, what is your favorite way to treat yourself?
This is a hard one because I spend most of my time playing sports, but I’d have to say hanging out with my friends or face-timing my best friend who lives in Austin.
Ines Guevara, Convocations Board Chair
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
I’ve been on Convocations Board for 3 years!!
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I really wanted to run for chair to be able to lead the board that I’ve been on for so long and to be able to choose and find super cool and interesting speakers for assemblies. I also really wanted to have a way to connect with the entire Upper School!
Q: What are you most excited about for next year?
I’m really looking forward to how the Student Council works together and how we can mix and collaborate with all the different boards and positions.
Q: What is your favorite Hockaday lunch?
This is a hard question. My favorite Hockaday lunch would have to be either the taco salad bar or the chicken tortilla soup!
Q: How do you like to treat yourself?
I love love love to play with my dog and watch tv with my family! Also, Netflix really never lets you down!
Lily Forbes, Fine Arts Board Chair
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
I’ve been serving on student council since sophomore year when I was elected to represent Form II on the Fine Arts Board.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I wanted to run for my position because the arts are truly where I find joy, and I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to work with girls from other grades doing what I love most.
Q: What are you most excited about for next year?
I am really looking forward to finding ways to expand our board. It’s been so amazing seeing how each chair makes the position these past few years and I can’t wait to take on that role myself!
Q: What is your favorite form of art?
My passion is theatre—whether that’s acting in plays and musicals or contributing to productions in other ways. I love how collaborative this art form is!
Q: Where is your favorite spot to study at Hockaday?
My favorite Hockaday study spot is the first floor of the science building. Casey Freeman and I go there all the time during C period when we want to be productive.
Mary Gum, Honor Council President
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
I have been on the Honor Council since freshman year.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I was class president in eight grade and really loved being in a leadership position. As a freshman I wanted to continue this but wanted to try something different, which is why I didn’t run for president freshman year. When we had the Honor Council assembly I realized that the Honor Code is something that I deeply value. When they talked about how their job is to help other people understand the honor code, I knew that the Honor Council was something that I wanted to be a part of.
Q: What are you most excited about for next year?
I will be most excited to plan the Honor Council assembly and to meet with big STUCO and talk about what we are going to do that school year.
Q: What is your favorite way to stay honorable?
I keep a link to the Hockaday Honor Code in the plan book on my desktop, just in case I or anyone else has a question and I need a point of reference.
Q: Favorite treat-yourself snack?
My favorite food of all time is sushi. I would have it as a snack or even for breakfast.
Casey Freeman, Student Relations Board Chair
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
The 2019-2020 school year will be my first year to serve on a student council position.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I wanted to run for Student Relations Board Chair to plan fun activities between forms and help with form competitions.
Q: What are you most excited about for next year?
I am excited to bond as a form throughout the senior year.
Q: Where is your favorite spot to study on campus?
My favorite spot to study on campus is the library.
Q: What is your favorite TV show?
My favorite show is The Office!
Maisy Crow, Technology Board Chair
Q: How long have you been with Student Council?
I’ve been working with student council ever since I was elected as my grade’s technology board representative freshmen year.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
It was a way that I could use my skills in and passion for technology to help my peers, so running for the position came naturally for me.
Q: What are you excited about for next year?
I’m really excited to get to participate in student council on a larger scale, and also to get to lead tech board. During my time on the board, I’ve been guided by many amazing seniors and I’ve always been impressed by their passion, determination, and work ethic, so it’s very exciting to me to get to fill that role for the other grade representatives next year.
Q: What is your favorite piece of technology?
My favorite piece of technology would have to be my car. I think a lot of the time people don’t think about how recently cars became a household luxury, but they really open up our lives and make our worlds so much bigger. Without a car, how often would we get to visit our friends, go out to dinner, or even go to school? Not often.
Q: How much do you print?
Probably more than I should, haha.
Q: What is your guilty pleasure movie?
Definitely the original X-Men movies. They’re like, so bad, but I was obsessed with them growing up so I still love watching them.
Gina Miele, Community Service Board Chair
Q: How long have you been with Student Council?
I’ve been on the Community Service Board since freshman year, but I’ve never been a part of the Upper School Student Council before. I look forward to working with everyone!
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
Through my experiences in community service, I have been able to find joy in learning about and helping others. I wanted to run for Chair of the Community Service Board so I could help others find ways to experience that happiness while also embracing their passions.
Q: What are you excited about for next year?
It’s been exciting to be involved at the ground level with the Institute for Social Impact, and I look forward to seeing the Institute develop and continue to make a significant impact on the Dallas community!
Q: What is your guilty pleasure movie?
I love watching Clueless and binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy.
Q: What is your favorite way to treat yourself?
I love curling up with a blanket, a cup of hot chocolate and a good book.
Richa Kapoor, Student Diversity Board Chair
Q: How long have you been with Student Council?
I have been on Student Council since freshman year, when I interned on Student Diversity Board.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I wanted to run for SDB Chair because the board has been a big part in my personal growth over the past few years. The previous chairs taught and inspired me so much, and I am excited to be that person for the younger members of the board. I ran for SDB chair so I could continue the legacy of the board!
Q: What are you excited about for next year?
I’m excited about the Senior Retreat and graduation! I am definitely sad to be leaving everyone, but I can’t wait to see what the future holds for us!
Q: What is your guilty pleasure food?
Tacos, always.
Q: What is your favorite way to treat yourself?
I watch a lot of Netflix and eat foods that I probably shouldn’t.
Eliana Goodman, Editor-in-Chief of The Fourcast
Q: How long have you been on Student Council?
I have been on the Community Service Board since the beginning of this year, but this is my first time on the exec. Council.
Q: What motivated you to run for your position?
I wanted to run for Editor because I love that I have the opportunity to learn about and my community and educate others through the Fourcast. I am always blown away by the effort that the staff puts in and how impactful the Fourcast gets to be and I am so excited to have a bigger role in that.
Q: What are you most excited about for next year?
I am so excited to help plan big events with the rest of StuCo and design the Fourcast spreads!
Q: What is your guilty pleasure movie?
My guilty pleasure movie is Legally Blonde.
Q: What is your favorite way to treat yourself?
I love cuddling up with my cat, Stevie, watching feel-good movies, and eating dark chocolate.
Story and photos by Eliana Goodman
