The Girls Club election for the 2025-2026 school year runs from March 11 through 14, with all current sophomores and juniors having the right to vote for their candidate of choice in five different positions: 

President: Jane Gelwix, Francesca Hlavacek

Vice President: Riley Coffey, Mary Heger

Secretary: Lane Dillingham, Elena Faith

Senior Class Chair: Katie Foote, Kathryn Pawasarat

Junior Class Chair: Charlotte Carmel, Annie Gelwix

Girls Club raises money for the New Trier Scholarship Fund, which provides need-based scholarships for graduating students to support their post high school education, by selling concessions at sports games and hosting other fundraising events. The elected leaders will help guide the club’s fundraising efforts during the next school year. 

The New Trier News sat down with this year’s presidential and vice presidential candidates and asked them six questions about their candidacy. Here’s what they had to say:

Presidential candidates 

Jane Gelwix: Junior

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

I would say that I’m a very compassionate person because I hold a lot of empathy for people, and I am also able to kind of feel what other people are feeling. I’m able to make them feel more comfortable or whatever they need. 

Why did you decide to run for president?

I decided to run for president because I feel like we do a lot of good in Girls Club, but there’s a lot more we could do, especially when we’re not fundraising with concessions at field hockey games, football games, and soccer games. During the winter, I want to get a lot more involved with women’s shelters and [organize] a lot more food drives and all that kind of stuff. Also, I feel like there’s so much more that could be done with the community inside of Girls Club that I really want to grow and expand. And I feel like I could do that to the best of my ability as president.

What is the first thing you want to do in office?

The first thing I want to do, kind of like in a sorority, is I want to do something called big sister and little sister. The numbers kind of match out perfectly, where the amount of sophomores coming in match the upperclassmen. So, each sophomore would get matched with an upperclassmen before school starts, and they would basically have that bridge as they come into the Winnetka Campus. And they’d be able to have a friend and have a safe space to talk to and if they need anything. That person can be there for them. 

What do you think makes a good leader?

I think something that makes a good leader is definitely having a lot of empathy, being able to feel what your people need in that moment, and also being able to command a group and be able to get things done, while also making sure everything is a welcoming environment and a fun, safe space.

What do you plan to do differently from the current administration?

I plan to spend a lot collaborating as a group with people who you might not like or who aren’t maybe your go-to people.  Just to make the club community a lot tighter knit. And also, I plan to do a lot more activities, especially during the winter and spring, not only that have to do with the New Trier Scholarship Fund but also like local restaurants and businesses in the New Trier Township area. Also, as I mentioned earlier, a bunch of women’s shelters and a bunch of nonprofits that we can get involved with to kind of expand our service in the community. 

What have you done that makes you qualified for this role?

Although I was not elected junior class chair last year, I have brought a lot of ideas. I have been a dedicated member. I’ve shown up to everything. I really do think that I care so much about the club and although I haven’t been able to have an impact as an officer before, I have shown up. I have given my ideas to the best of my ability and what I think I can do to help.

Francesca Hlavacek: Junior

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

I would describe myself as colorful. I feel like there are a lot of different sides to me and things like that. I think that’s similar to colors. I think of myself as having a very colorful personality.

Why did you decide to run for president?

I decided to run because I’ve loved being in Girls Club since my freshman year. It has always been a goal of mine ever since I met the current board when I was a freshman. I loved the work that we do in Girls Club, and I wanted to continue to make an impact. 

What is the first thing you want to do in office?

One of the big things I want to do is one day a semester, I want Girls Club as a whole to go to Feed My Starving Children or Bernie’s Book Bank or something like that and do a day there. That way, the club would get to know each other better, and we would also be doing service outside of the community as well. 

What do you think makes a good leader?

Someone that is very open to hearing other people’s ideas and not just sticking to their own plan. There are always things that go your way and that don’t go your way. Being able to adapt to new things as well as listening to criticism if somebody doesn’t like the way you’re doing something [makes a good leader]. I know that there are people in the club who have other ideas that are going to be different from mine, so being open to those ideas [is important]. 

What do you plan to do differently from the current administration?

I would try to spend more time in different groups and switching around the families we have in Girls Club so that you get to meet more people than in the groups that last the whole year. That way, it is open, and everyone gets to know each other on a similar level.

What have you done that makes you qualified for this role?

I have founded two nonprofits for cancer research and helping families who cancer has impacted them. I am on the youth board for one of them, and on the board, I am a peer leader. I help younger kids navigate cancer and when their families have it and things like that. I am good at leading a larger group of people, and also we take a lot of donations and do a lot of fundraising since it is a nonprofit. I think it would help a lot just because I know those fundraising skills and can apply that to the club.

Vice presidential candidates

Riley Coffey: Junior

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

I would say determined. I am very loud and vocal about what I want to do for the club, so I feel like I am very determined to help the other officers who are running change club and move it for the better.

Why did you decide to run for vice president?

I wanted a leadership role. I ran last year and didn’t win, and I was okay with that, but I wanted to run this year for that leadership position and to show my determination for the club.

What is the first thing you want to do in office?

I want to make sure that everyone gets a voice in club. Sometimes, there are people, and I am definitely one of these people, that talk more and are louder. I want everyone to be able to have a voice so they are not feeling like they can’t share their ideas.

What do you think makes a good leader?

Somebody who can talk and reach out to everybody like the sponsors, peers, and [Student Activities Coordinator] Ms. [Stacy] Kolack, who is a very crucial part [of the club], somebody who can definitely be comfortable speaking in front of big groups, and somebody who treats everyone like they want to be treated.

What do you plan to do differently from the current administration?

I think keeping how the club is run, definitely. We have a thing called families, where you are paired up with a couple girls in different grades to talk in groups and plan activities. I would definitely want more family time because I feel like there are a lot of different cliques in club, but having one group you can go to and talk about anything is really helpful. 

What have you done that makes you qualified for this role?

I am also president and in another leadership position of something called [National Charity League]. I have been a part of that club for three to four years now, and I think that being president this year has really helped me. I am also a part of two varsity sports, which helps me with being able to talk to teammates and work together since rowing is a team sport and you’re talking constantly. I was also a Bridge Builder this past year, so I was also able to connect with girls who were not my age and communicate with the adviser.

Mary Heger: Junior

If you had to describe yourself in one word, what would it be and why?

Enthusiastic. I feel like I am a very loud person, and if I do something, I have a lot of fun doing it and do it energetically. 

Why did you decide to run for vice president?

Last year, I ran for junior class chair and I didn’t get it, but I wanted to run again because I feel like I could contribute a lot of ideas to club, and the leadership position was something I am really interested in and good at. I really enjoy everything we do in club and organizing everything. I want to help club become better. It is already so different because we have all new sponsors, so it has changed so much, and I want to figure out how to run everything smoothly.

What is the first thing you want to do in office?

I would want to work on doing more fundraisers. We do a lot right now, but after football season, we have a lot of free time, so continuing to reach out to different organizations to get more fundraisers going. Also getting more interactive fundraisers going, like the Studio Spin one we are doing right now. I feel like doing more fundraisers like that where you’re not just asking people for money all of the time and you can do something.

What do you think makes a good leader?

Someone who is honest with everyone. Someone who takes initiative and is willing to do the hard things.

What do you plan to do differently from the current administration?

Our current vice president [Olivia Allen] and president [Lucy Carmel] already do a lot and are really good, but I feel like they take a lot of charge, which you’re supposed to do, but I feel we could distribute action among the board more. Also, we can have more participation within the club members and including everyone and their ideas. 

What have you done that makes you qualified for this role?

Sometimes we get asked about our ideas, and I have contributed a bunch of ideas. In club, I am very loud and have an active voice.