Editor’s Note: Sloan Crosson is a writer for the New Trier News and was interviewed in this article. She was not involved in the writing, reporting, or editing of this article.

From Feb. 28 to March 8, sophomores and juniors can vote for next school year’s leaders of Girls Club, Student Council, and Tri-Ship. These groups are critical to serving and supporting the student body at New Trier High School. 

This year, 17 students from Girls Club are vying to earn the vote of students to serve them in one of four elected positions—president, vice president, secretary, and junior class chair. 

Girls Club fundraises for the New Trier Scholarship Fund, which assists girls at New Trier who need help paying for college. The club also does projects that support the greater community. 

As students decide who to vote for, Student Activities Coordinator Stacy Kolack wants voters to take this election seriously. These elections are not a popularity contest. It is a chance for students to weigh in on who they think would best fulfill the responsibilities of these positions. 

As the election season takes place, students can locate important information on who the candidates are, why they ran and what they hope to accomplish below. 

Presidential candidates

The role of the president is to run daily meetings, assist sponsors with the planning and execution of fundraising and social service events, delegate projects to other board members, and help organize service events with Tri-Ship, such as canned food drives. 

Junior Lucy Carmel, who has been a part of Girls Club for three years, currently serves as junior class chair. She is running for president to continue to step up and help the club more in day-to-day planning. 

As president, Carmel hopes to add more fundraisers, such as working with local restaurants, and to improve bonds between club members. 

“[I want to try] to build a tighter community because, although we have great bonds in club, I feel there’s ways that we could build those bonds even more,” Carmel said.

Junior Elsa Hyser, who has been a part of Girls Club for three years, is running for president to work on fundraising, an area she has experience with. 

“I am a type one diabetic, so I grew up doing a lot of fundraising revolving around diabetes research, and that’s really made me passionate for just improving a lot of things through fundraising,” Hyser said. 

As president, Hyser wants to raise money to impact not only the school but also the community, such as raising money to support migrants coming to the area.  

“We have so much resources and so many people in [Girls Club], especially at the freshman campus, that we can make a bigger impact in the community,” Hyser said. 

Junior Abby Mervis, who has been a part of Girls Club for three years, is running for president to encourage more people to join the club. 

“It’s a really great environment for girls who are looking to meet new people and get some service in or help out the community,” Mervis said. 

As president, Mervis wants to ensure the inclusion of everyone when fundraising. 

“[I want to] listen to other people’s ideas and bring new ideas so that everyone feels that they’re always involved and heard,” Mervis said. 

Outside of school, Mervis teaches kids at her Sunday School. She feels that experience has helped her learn more about leadership. 

“I find that helps me with being able to talk to a lot of people and knowing how to talk to different people and finding ways to compromise and communicate to make sure everyone feels involved,” Mervis said.

Vice Presidential candidates

The role of the vice president is to plan daily activities with the president, serve as the contact person for the activities office, send out group messages using Remind, create and order Girls Club gear, and keep track of snack day lists.

Junior Olivia Allen, who has been a part of Girls Club for three years, is running for vice president to grow as a leader and to welcome incoming sophomores to the club. 

“I would like to continue the inclusive environment that is a big draw to the club,” Allen said. “I really enjoy attending the club with all the friendly faces in it.” 

As vice president, she wants to contribute more to the New Trier Scholarship Fund.

“I would like   to create stronger fundraisers, whether that be inside school during school hours or outside of school, meaning we could do a Mother’s Day fundraiser that could be outside of the Grand where we sell flowers,” Allen said. 

Outside of school, Allen has worked with Summer Camp Opportunities Promote Education for the past three years, an organization that raises money for kids from low socioeconomic backgrounds to attend overnight camps.

Junior Maggie Anglemyer, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for vice president to help people. During freshman year, the club helped Project Linus, a group that made blankets for kids with cancer, which was a very personal experience for Anglemyer.  

“I’m a cancer survivor, so that was a really special moment for me to be able to give back to that community,” Anglemyer said. “I just want to be able to help out others in that way.” 

As vice president, Anglemyer wants to hear from club members on what fundraisers they want to do and increase the club’s inclusivity. 

Outside of school, she is a member of the Winnetka Junior Board, where she helps raise money for the Community House.

Junior Murphy Foster, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for vice president to expand the club’s activities.

“[I want to] think of new ideas for fundraisers, come up with new activities or types of service we can do in [the] club, and help just build a supportive community,” Foster said. 

Foster said she wants students to know that the club is fun and inclusive.

“It’s just somewhere you can come to relax and meet new people, while also being able to help others through service projects,” Foster said.

Sophomore Sloan Crosson, who has been a part of Girls Club for one year, is running for vice president to ensure club members are loved and uplifted. 

“I want to help current members and new members feel just as welcome as I did when I first came,” Crosson said.  

As vice president, she wants to make a helpful impact on people in the school and other communities. She also wants to share her passion for the club with others. 

“I just love to help people and I love meeting new people,” Crosson said. “Girls Club is just a combination of the two.”

Secretary candidates

The role of the secretary is to plan daily activities with the president, create promotional materials, and maintain the club’s social media accounts. 

Junior Eva Boots, who has been a part of Girls Club for three years, is running for secretary to welcome incoming sophomores into a space she describes as fun and safe. 

“The officers, when I first joined club, were really helpful to get you used to this school and club and they made it more fun,” Boots said. 

As secretary, Boots wants to keep the club as an enjoyable space. She wants to use her creativity to plan fun activities, such as when the club recently made valentines for people with disabilities at living centers.

Sophomore Riley Coffey, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for secretary because she loves being a leader. 

“I’m good at voicing my opinions,” Coffey said. “I easily can present and speak about myself and other things. I’m just good at sharing my ideas and I love volunteering.” 

As secretary, she would work to ensure members could meet their quotas for how much volunteering they need to accomplish. 

She also mentioned her determination in raising more money to meet her own quota.

Sophomore Paloma Root, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for secretary to improve the club’s outreach. 

“I want to use our social media for more outreach so that people can understand all that we’re accomplishing in [the] club,” Root said. 

As secretary, she wants to see the club do more service projects, such as Project Linus and donating bagged lunches to the homeless. 

Outside of school, Root has other service experience. She has traveled to Puerto Rico, where she is from, to help clean up after hurricanes. 

Junior Caoilainn Sack, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for secretary to keep the club a safe environment that eases sophomores’ “scary” transition from the Northfield to Winnetka campus.

“That was a really great place for me to have,” Sack said. “Seeing all these people to say ‘Hi’ to in the hallways, it’s a great feeling.”

As secretary, Sack wants to expand volunteer opportunities into working with animals or at food pantries.

“Such a big part of Girls Club is that we do more than scholarships,” Sack said. “We also help with the community and all the people around.”

Sophomore Chesa Valente, who has been a part of Girls Club for one year, is running for secretary to improve the efficiency of club meetings. 

“I feel a lot of times we get off task,” Valente said. “Even though I still want to have a lot of fun, I feel like I want to get stuff done.” 

As secretary, Valente wants to increase overall participation among club members. 

“I want everyone to feel included and I want everyone to feel how I feel because it’s such a great feeling to be in the club,” Valente said. 

Valente said she has leadership experience helping out her brother’s basketball and baseball teams and has run fundraisers for her church. 

Junior class chair candidates

The role of the junior class chair is to plan daily activities with the president, keep an updated record of fundraising quotas, count money after football and soccer games with a sponsor, collect ideas and make contact for potential fundraisers, and coordinate spring car wash with Tri-Ship. 

Sophomore Jane Gelwix, who has been a part of Girls Club for one year, is running for junior class chair to welcome incoming sophomores into what she describes as a “kind, caring, tight-knit community.” 

As junior class chair, she wants to open up more opportunities for service, an area she has a deep interest in. She has been a leader on her rowing team and as a cashier. In her job, she trains new employees. 

Sophomore Eloise Hamm, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for junior class chair to welcome the incoming sophomores into the loving environment that is Girls Club and to grow the club through field trips. 

“I would love to…get out there so we can really see our impact and just broaden our horizons,” Hamm said. “It’s also just a great bonding experience.”  

She wants students to know that, as a club leader, she would have two tasks at hand. 

“It’s important to work on maintaining a balance between the best fundraisers and getting the most money possible for the scholarship fund, while also making sure everyone feels included and is willing to work their hardest and just work together,” Hamm said. 

Sophomore Mary Heger, who has been a part of Girls Club for one year, is running for junior class chair to strengthen relationships between club members. She also wants the club to donate to food banks, something she noted that Tri-Ship already does. 

When people think of the club, Heger wants them to see the club beyond just fundraising. 

“You do a lot of leadership and fundraising, but you just hang out with your friends and you get to meet new people,” Heifer said. “It’s just a really good environment.” 

Sophomore Francesca Hlavacek, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for junior class chair to diversify the club’s activities. 

“When you first join the club, you’re kind of learning the ropes,” Hlavacek said. “I feel now that I know what’s going on, I want to start to do things that could help make an impact and kind of organize different events.” 

Hlavacek has helped start two non-profits. One for kids whose parents had cancer. The second was created with her mom, who had lung cancer, to help raise awareness and funding for lung cancer. She wants the club to focus on projects that support smaller organizations. 

Hlavacek said she would make a good leader as junior class chair, as she would help ease the transition of the incoming sophomores from the Northfield to the Winnetka campus. 

Sophomore Kathryn Pawasarat, who has been a part of Girls Club for two years, is running for junior class chair to commit more to the club. She wants to make the environment feel even better, as she feels the club is a space where she can relax and be happy. 

As junior class chair, she wants to push the club to take on more fun group activities. That way, the various groups in the club can come together and connect, so everyone is friendly with each other. 

“I can really make it organized and make sure everyone’s happy,” Pawasarat said. 

Pawasarat wants students to know that the club is a safe and welcoming space. 

“Everyone is deserving and has a place here because it’s Girls Club,” Pawasarat said.