Student Government Elections Today!
The Student Government elections are happening – meet some of the candidates!
Today, we will be voting for our next officers for the 2023-2024 school year! Each year, around May, we vote for our new student government class officers and general officers. This year, we have multiple officers up for election, let’s take a look at who they are and what they will do for our student body!
Cardinal Nation reached out to each of the candidates and asked them some key questions. Here are the responses we received:
Alleyna Richards – Student Body President 
“Why go any other way? Vote Alleyna Richards today!”
Why are you running for this office?
Student Government is one of my top priorities. I love being apart of the club and being involved in the events and activities.
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this post?
I have been class president for the past two years so I have a lot of leadership experience. I am also apart of Sparkle Cheerleading, National Honors Society and Principal’s Advisory, which shows I deeply care about the school and community.
What is the theme of your campaign? What is your candidacy about?
My theme would be improving the activities and events Student Government runs.
What are two specific platform ideas that you are running on that will make MHS a better place for students?
Some ideas that I am running on are possibly sending out polls to the student body see what games they want to see at assemblies and creating some sort of competition for Spirit Weeks so students will be more involved in the activities.
Sydney Vihtelic – Senior Class President
“If you want what’s best for MHS, vote Sydney for Senior Class Prez!”
Why are you running for this office?
I am running because I want to give the Class of 2024 the best possible Senior Year they can have and make changes to the school that will help the future classes!
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this post?
I am involved in a variety of activities that have helped me develop skills that would be important for a class president to have. For example, being in Speech and Debate has helped me improve my public speaking, and being in String Sinfonia taught me how to lead a group. Being a student in many extracurricular activities and AP classes has taught me how to set priorities, so I will make sure to make the Student Body a priority. Additionally, I am very empathetic, which I feel is a quality that a leader should have so that they understand the views of who they are leading.
What is the theme of your campaign? What is your candidacy about?
The main idea that I am running on is increasing recognition. Whether formal or informal, for students or for staff, I feel like the people in our school should be applauded more for the work that they do!
What are two specific platform ideas that you are running on that will make MHS a better place for students?
My first idea is to have more senior recognition in clubs; I would like to get seniors from each club something like a poster or an award displayed to show that their effort is not going unnoticed by the student body. Another idea that I think would make MHS a better place is having positive affirmations around the school. While this may seem like a small thing, seeing a message on the mirror that says you look great today can really make someone feel better about themselves. We have had this in the past but I would like to have them up for a longer duration of time and do this a large number of times throughout the school year!
Sarah Blakemore – Junior Class President
“Blakemore Will Do More, For YOU!”
Why are you running for this office?
Currently, I am the sophomore class president. I am running for this office because overall, I want to help our class and my fellow peers.
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this post?
As I said, I am the current sophomore class president. With this position, I have participated in almost all of the Student Government activities. Along with that, currently, Mr. Russo and I are planning a fundraiser for the sophomore class. Additionally, I am a stellar student with a 4.27 GPA and have previously been awarded department awards. Along with that, I have been awarded two awards at international Model U.N. conferences in the past two years. Also, I run my own club, the Helping Cardinals, which has raised over $200. With this club, I know how to lead a group of people. Along with that, I’m involved in our Cardinal Nation.
What is the theme of your campaign? What is your candidacy about?
The theme of my candidacy is to spread positivity and school spirit. To do this, I want to host more school involved events and assemblies. This year, I felt that school spirit was a bit low, so next year I want to make it my goal to have more school spirit.
What are two specific platform ideas that you are running on that will make MHS a better place for students?
One specific platform idea that I will be running on is shooting out polls to the actual student body to get ideas on what to do for things such as spirit days. I feel that as Student Government, we need to find out what the actual student body wants to do, so shooting out polls to figure this out is a great way. Additionally, I would like to have more school based events such as maybe a field day after school when it is nearing the end of the school year to boost student moral.
Scarlette Washlock – Junior Class President
“Vote for Scarlette, you won’t regret it!”
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for office because even though MHS and Class of 2025 is already great, I think there is so much more we can improve. I have always wanted to be more involved in our school so if I were to win, I’d be able to share my ideas and hear others opinions and make the best of them.
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this post?
First and foremost, I am qualified because I am a student at MHS and I have the knowledge of what is needed to make junior year better. I am a great leader and will be able to serve my class and Student Gov with my current skill set and am thrilled to be able to learn and grow. Along with that, I was elected president of my elementary school. Yes this was a while ago, but I took away various skills and ways to collaborate with my class and advisors. Not only do I have presidential experience and how to be involved in Student Gov, but I also know how to work with a team to get things done. I currently have a 3.7 GPA and am enrolled in college classes. I am in NHS and on the 10th grade administration board. Time management, organization, and motivation are skills I possess that are great qualities for this position.
What is the theme of your campaign? What is your candidacy about?
My candidacy is all about being able to involve our school in the community more.
What are two specific platform ideas that you are running on that will make MHS a better place for students?
There are a lot of things I would like to focus on improving in MHS but the one thing I want to really do is involve the junior class in way more community activities. This means planning more community activities such as fundraisers, class outings and crafts, and socializing with the community. For example, class movie nights, tie dying, car washes, community spaghetti nights. I also want to make MHS a better place for students by pushing for improvements for more unification and inclusivity for students and the environment. MHS is filled with diversity and I want every student to feel included and like they matter.
Zoe Barninger – Sophomore Class President
“Live, Laugh, Love, Vote Zoe”
Why are you running for this office?
I am running for this office because I truly care about this class and I enjoy being involved in the community. I want to make a difference and this seems like a great way to accomplish my goal. I am ardently appreciative for this oppurtunity and truly wish to be president.
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this post?
I am the current Freshman Class Vice President and I am involved in many clubs so I know the lay of the land of Mentor High School. I understand how clubs work and I can use that to work more efficiently as president. I feel that I truly understand the current freshman class and this will make me a better president.
What is the theme of your campaign? What is your candidacy about?
My candidacy is all about the devotion I have for my class and the hard work I will do for them.
What are two specific platform ideas that you are running on that will make MHS a better place for students?
My goal as President would be to get more attendance in the Student Government events like the blood drive and Mr. MHS. I also want to get people more involved in clubs like Student Government and all of the good they can do.
Yehuai Lin – Sophomore Class President
“Get a Smile Each Day”
Why are you running for this office?
I feel I am fit for this role, and to create a greater community within our schools. I have a good sense of duties, morals, and beliefs.
What qualifications do you have that make you a good fit for this post?
I have a lot of good experiences within life and good amounts of leadership skills.
What is the theme of your campaign? What is your candidacy about?
My theme this year is to promote the better health and oppoiunites of students that will succeed in life. With the slogan of “free air”, which may sound childish but however this slogan has a deeper meaning. Air is something you need to do well in life, since you need air to stay alive. People think somethings in life is just granted, when it is not, just like air. Which, is why I want to help and fight for what is right.
What are two specific platform ideas that you are running on that will make MHS a better place for students?
One idea is the improvement of opportunities for students, MHS is a massive high school with tons of resources and different career fields. However this is a finite amount, and increasing this will help students become more rounded off. More hands of activities out side of the school environment will help with this problem. In addition, the improvement of what the student body wants, the views and ideals of the student body is different from the higher ups such as teachers and admins. Admins may want something different from what students actually want, which will cause a conflict of enjoyability and the desire to do it. An example would be advisory, advisory is something admins wants to keep to spread information and to inform student body of what is coming up. Yet, it is not quite working out, students are not paying attention because of the dislike of advisory.
Additional candidates:
Jackson Hodkey for Junior Class President
Audrianna Reed for Senior Class President
Afhan Taha for Student Body Vice President
Videos and ballot for freshmen
Sarah is a current sophomore at Mentor High School. Some extracurriculars she is involved in are Model UN, Student Government, Helping Lake County, and...
