The end of the 2024-2025 school year brought around another season of Student Council (STUCO) elections. As elections came to a close, the newly elected candidates have been excited to get a start in their positions.
The voting process for Student Council elections began on April 30 and ended on May 2, and the voting was predominantly overseen by the club advisors Ms. Goode and Mrs. Wilkie. Rising freshman and sophomores could vote for the positions of president and vice president, while upperclassmen also had the opportunity to vote for the secretary position.
Additionally, there were specific positions which only student council members could vote for through a physical ballot, such as Homecoming/Prom, Public Relations, Spirit, Community Service and Committee Chairs. Each position is important in student government, as it allows for everything to be maintained efficiently and important responsibilities are distributed throughout multiple people.
Lastly, there were certain appointed positions such as the Wellness Ambassador, who helps implement national initiatives regarding mental health. Other appointed positions included the Appreciation Liaison, who coordinates appreciation events such as teacher appreciation, and the Member Coordinator, who ensures that each Student Council member is on task with their responsibilities regarding any event. These roles were obtained through an interview process, where the best candidate was chosen.
As for the candidates themselves, the campaigning process was both stressful and enjoyable. The pressure to stand out among their competitors and ensure victory made for a tense atmosphere, but campaigning also gave them a chance to be creative and rally support. Candidates mainly used social media such as Instagram or Snapchat to advocate for themselves and highlight their ambitions for the position they were running for.
“I loved campaigning for Public Relations, it gave me a preview of what my role would be like and it was a fun experience overall,” Lambert Sophomore Baratth Pillay explained.
Campaigning for Student Council provides candidates with an opportunity to prematurely build relationships with the student body and gain a sense of what their positions would be like.
“I want the student body to be more aware of Student Council and what we do,” Pillay added. “Being on Public Relations can give me a chance to connect with students and share our efforts and successes with the whole school.”
Student Council elections are not only important for the student body, but for the leaders as well. The election process is an important segue for candidates to eventually step into the roles they are running for. Pillay hopes to connect Student Council with the general student population and create a more collaborative environment.
Regarding the results of the election, they were released on the Lambert Student Council Instagram account on May 9, but whether a candidate was selected for a position or not, they can still be active members of student council and participate in many events. For those who do get elected, they become part of the Executive Board and play a key role in the organization.
Overall, the Student Council elections were a thrilling process for both voters and candidates, setting the stage for change and new ideas in the upcoming school year.
