Mary Caltrider, CHS Student Body President

Why did you decide to run for student body president?

I decided to run for student body president because I have been in Senate for three years, and I came in as a freshman and right away I knew I wanted to be the student body president. The student body president is kind of the leader of Senate, and I’ve been interested in this position for a long time. I think I have a lot of great ideas that I really want to bring to the table, and I think that this position allows me to do that.

What does being selected as the student body president mean to you?

I think it’s a huge honor that I’m able to receive this opportunity from the student body to lead them, and that they chose me as their representative to show their voice and their opinion in the school. So, I’m definitely honored, and I can’t wait.

What do you hope to accomplish as the student body president this year?

I think one thing that I really want to accomplish is letting everyone feel like they are a priority. We have some many different things going on in this school from the football team, flash mob club, choir, and orchestra. I want everyone to feel like they are a priority. I guess I feel like in the past that its been like they are all about this and that, I want everyone to have a say and that they are just as important as every other activity in the school.

What are something things that you plan to do differently this year?

Something I plan to do differently is I definitely actually want to bring a new event to that table. “I’ve been in senate for three years now, so I really feel like I have masted all the events that we have and I definitely think we could do more. I’m interested in coming up with an event that is for a charity that nothing at Carmel High School is for yet. I’m really excited to see what we can do I think that all of the senators have some great ideas and we are all willing to work hard and make something happen.

What do you anticipate about this year?

I anticipate that it’s going to be a busy year, but I think there will be a lot of different changes and I also think there will be things that we keep a tradition. I think there will a lot of great things will happen. I think that all the senators we’re all so close and I think that bond will just grow stronger and that will just help us be able to accomplish and have more success.

What is something you would like the student body to know about you?

Something to know about me personally is I am kind of involved in all different parts of the school. I’ve played volleyball, the ping-pong club, the choir, TV, so definitely I’ve touched all the little different activities. So, I definitely feel like I know how it is when you’re in these different activities and you don’t really feel like you’re as important as something else. So, I think that letting everyone’s minds be spoken and I think that being involved, I know a lot of different people from different activities, so I really think that’s going to help.

Samantha Mckenzie, CHS Speaker of The House

Why did you decide to run for speaker of the house?

I’ve been in student government since my freshman year. I started as house of representatives and I was in cabinet my sophomore and junior year. I just really wanted to take a step up and work directly with the student body and be a leader of the house of representatives.

What does being selected as the speaker of the house mean to you?

It means a lot to me it’s given me the opportunity that a lot of students don’t have to be a leader in the school. Also, live my life through service, which is something not a lot of high schoolers get to do. So, it’s a really unique experience that means a lot to me.

What do you hope to accomplish as the speaker of the house this year?

I really want to concentrate in getting the entire student body involved with the student government events, whether that would mean promoting to new groups of people, but also establishing new events that appeal to new groups of people. So, that we are not just concentrating on the kids that have come in the past, but also reaching out and getting everyone engaged and involved in the school.

What are something things that you plan to do differently this year?

We’re already working on some new events just to reach out to new people. We have a big golf outing this summer which is something we’ve never done before. I think I just really want to concentrating on establishing new events for new people.

What do you anticipate about this year?

I anticipate some really great things. We’re interviewing for cabinet right now. We have some awesome kids coming into that. I anticipate a lot of kids working hard and coming together. We had a great turn out at dance marathon this past year, so just getting more people involved in that. Having the school come together and work for service and try to get everyone as involved as possible so our school can explode more than it already has.

What is something you would like the student body to know about you?

I’m here for the student body and I’m open to everybody. I want them to feel like they’re welcome in the student government and that I’m here for them to get involved in the school. I want to work for them rather than working for myself. I think It’s going to a great year and that Carmel is going to be the best its ever been.