The Senate is in the midst of election season. Today, it was announced that, after this week’s run-off election, current junior class president Jeremy Weprich earned the most votes and will be the student body president for the 2010-2011 school year. Junior David Chiang will serve as the speaker of the House.

Next week, elections for senator and class officer positions will take place. According to Foutz, the election process will be much the same as the previous elections. Campaigning students have to follow identical campaigning procedures, and voters will be able to go online with their student ID and birth date to vote for students in their grade.

In addition to elections, Senate is also organizing events like the spring semester blood drive and scholarship funds. On May 7, the Senate will host the blood drive, and students who sign up to give blood will be able to donate any time in the field house between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Currently, the Senate is still registering students during all lunches in the main cafeteria. Senate sponsor Michelle Foutz said students can also contact her if they would like to register.

“We have two blood drives each year,” Foutz said. “It’s been a long tradition that was started by Mr. Bardos many years ago. I know students probably get tired of being asked to donate money, but the blood drive is something we can do without money.”

According to Foutz, the two blood drives the school organizes every year, in partnership with the Indiana Blood Center, are the biggest blood drive events in the Hamilton County community, and all the donated blood goes to central Indiana hospitals.

Before the school year ends, Senate is also putting the finishing touches on the Steven Backer Scholarship Fund, according to student body president Steven Brisley. Dr. Steven Backer served as president of the district’s school board for many years before he passed away last year, and in honor of his service to the school system, this year will mark the first annual Steven Backer Scholarship fund.

According to Brisley, the goal is to raise a total of $25,000, and the Senate is still working out the logistics of the scholarship. “The House did a great job raising money from the Amazing Race last Saturday,” Brisley said. “(The Senate’s) event will be held on May 12 at Hotbox Pizza and Noodles & Company.”

Brisley also said the Carmel Clay Education Foundation (CCEF) and Backer’s family will determine the winner of the scholarship. By Beverly Jenkins <[email protected]>