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Girls Bring School Pride to SGA Roles
A hallmark of the St. Andrew’s experience across divisions is offering leadership opportunities to students. Whether it’s helping create school rules in the Lower School or running clubs in the Upper School, there are always ways for students to become leaders.
Perhaps the pinnacle of leadership at St. Andrew’s is the Upper School Student Government Association. This year’s SGA is led by a diverse team of girls who each followed a unique path to student leadership.
SGA President Gillian Sanford ’18 has attended St. Andrew’s since fourth grade and said her love for the school and fellow students motivated her to run.
“I wanted to represent the student body,” Sanford said. “If they had something they wanted to say or change, they could come to me.”
Vice President Kate Cheong ‘18, said her experience as an international student inspired her to run for SGA office.
“Watching (the international student program) grow, working with Mr. Tajan and Ms. Graham to develop this program and making sure everyone has a support system - that is really important to me,” Cheong said. “I always wanted to have a leadership position. I want to be (part of) a support system of the school.”
Treasurer Ava Katz ’19 said she hadn’t considered running for office until she was encouraged by her peers and teachers. Now entering her third year as a student leader, she said she appreciates the opportunity to be a voice for her classmates.
“I really felt like I did make a difference, and that’s why I kept doing it,” Katz said. “To be a part of something that has the ability to (affect) student experiences…I think that’s really cool.”
Secretary Annabel Resor ’20 said she knew she wanted to make a difference through student government and decided to run for a position she felt she would excel at.
She said it is inspiring for their peers to see girls in all four officer roles.
“I feel like all four of us can show younger girls, and guys too, that they can be a part of this,” Resor said. “It doesn’t need to be something they’re scared to do – it’s something they can really enjoy.”
No matter their identity at school, Sanford said, any student can be a voice for their peers.
“You don’t need an A plus on every test or compete in every sport,” she said. “You have to make sure you’re able to talk to people and want to help others contribute to making St. Andrew’s a better place. We want to make St. Andrew’s the best it can be, because it’s already one of the best.”
St. Andrew’s Episcopal School is a private, coeducational college preparatory day school for students in preschool (Age 2) through grade 12, located in Potomac, Maryland.