President: Susan Peters

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN: What made you decide to run for President, as opposed to other positions?

SP: I have had the intention to run for president since 8th grade, which is actually when I began drafting a speech for the election. Nothing from the original speech made it into the final draft that you heard, but I did have this one line that I thought was just so clever at the time: “Not only are we women of faith pursuing excellence, but we are excellent women pursuing faith in student government.” Rather than running for president in previous years, I have chosen to run for Stewardship. One of the benefits of the position is that I have developed an excellent rapport with Mrs. Roth in the school office. We get along wonderfully, and I enjoy saying the prayer on the announcements every so often. However, this year, I decided to prioritize 8th grade Susan’s dream and challenge myself to achieve a leadership position with slightly more responsibilities than Stewardship.

AN: What are the roles of the President?

SP: President sort of acts as Xavier’s student representative to the outside world. If the administration needs a student to make an appearance at a public function, the president will be asked to set that example. Additionally, the president presides over all student council meetings and gives a variety of speeches about Xavier, which I particularly think I will excel at and enjoy.

AN: What quality do you think will help you most on Executive Board?

SP: I think my approachable demeanor will serve me very well as president. I try to make myself accessible to people, and my campaign was a populist one of sorts. Additionally, I would say I am a creative person, as I like to write and invent scenarios, which should be helpful next year in planning rallies and dances.

AN: What is your all-time favorite Disney movie and why?

SP: I actually really like the live-action “Cinderella” that was just released last year. It’s a beautiful movie. I’m not sure if it’s worthy of being called my favorite, but it deserves something. I also love all Pixar movies, except “Cars 2.”

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

SP: I want them to know that I will protect Sister Lynn with my life.

Vice President: Kassidy McIntyre

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN:  How excited are you to be on Executive Board this year?

KM: I am SUPER excited to be on Exec this year! I really think it’s going be a great year. I am really excited to make the rally themes magnificent and show off my acting skills in the rally videos.

AN: What is the job of the Vice President?

KM: As vice president, I basically help out my superior, the president, in anything she needs. I act in her place when she is not present, I get to take attendance at meetings, and hope I pronounce names correctly when doing so. I also function as the parliamentarian at meetings, I am actually not quite sure what that means, but I am excited to find out.

AN: Were you nervous while giving your speech?

KM: Well, I think I was more nervous right before the speech than when I was giving it. Every other time I have been on the announcements, I have messed up, so I was a little nervous about that, but it turned out fine.

AN: What do you think is your best quality?

KM: If I had to choose a best quality, I guess I would say my killer dance moves, as featured in Student Council rally dances throughout the years.

AN: What Netflix show is a must-watch, in your opinion?

KM: “Friends,” for obvious reasons, but “Dexter” also has a special place in my heart.

Secretary: Kat Shamsa

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN: What activities are you most excited about for next year?

KS: I am so excited for everything. Obviously rallies are one of the main things. I’m super excited to just be very involved in planning events and interacting with different schools. When you’re on Exec, you have so many opportunities to get involved and represent the school!

AN: Have you been on Student Council before?

KS: Yes, I have been! I was a senator sophomore year and Secretary junior year. I didn’t run freshmen year because I was such a nobody, but thank goodness something got into me sophomore year and I ran.

AN: What does the Secretary do?

KS: Secretary does many things, and I’ve already been told that I’ve got a lot of work to do. Things like take and read the minutes at the Wednesday meetings, make the agenda and I’m sure a few other things I don’t even know about yet.

AN: What were you feeling when you heard the announcement that you won?

KS: Well, since I was running unopposed I wasn’t exactly shocked when I heard my name called. Let me just take a minute to talk about how blessed I am to have been running unopposed because I got 10 hours of sleep the night before. That’s not something I can say about my other Exec members. I will say that hearing my name called did make everything seem so much more real.

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

KS: I want people to know that I love George Clooney, I stand by my decision to wear sketchers in 2016 and I strongly dislike hippos. With a passion.

Activities: Adanna Padda

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN: How excited were you to find out that you were elected to be the Activities Officer for Exec Board?

AP: It was the biggest relief! The week prior to elections was quite possibly the most stressful week of junior year, but to know that it had all come to an end and that my hard work paid off was the best feeling.

AN: What is the job of the Activities Officer?

AP: I coordinate the rallies and other school activities, but in previous years I made the music for our class for the rally.

AN: How long did it take you to write your speech?

AP: Literally it was a process of 5 months. Ideas came to me at such random times and then I would write them down in my notes. As time went on I would change the ideas or add more to them. When it finally came to writing my speech on paper, I had about five rough drafts before making my final one. Let’s just say it was quite the process.

AN: Who is your favorite Jonas Brother?

AP: Joe by a landslide, but I am slightly inclined to say Kevin, just because I feel bad for him.

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

AP: My favorite food is 100 percent Flamin Hot Cheetos, which are definitely superior to Takis. And my dream is to become vine famous.

Ellee Forsythe ’17

Historian: Sarah Neil

AN: How were you feeling prior to the announcement that you won?

SN: Oh my gosh, I was so nervous but excited at the same time. There was a lot of anticipation before seventh hour but it was definitely worth the wait.

AN: What do you envision senior year on Executive Board to be like?

SN: Ever since I’ve been a freshman, I’ve always looked up to the Exec girls and thought they were literally the coolest thing ever. So, I guess next year I want to live up to that standard of awesomeness.

AN: Why did you run for Historian?

SN: I ran for Historian because I’ve always had a passion for scrapbooking. No other position on this board would have been able to fulfill my strong desire for cutting and pasting colorful paper.

AN: What is your favorite Disney Channel Original Movie?

SN: That is so hard! Probably Geek Charming.

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

SN: I’m a huge fan of chili and I don’t believe that it hurts your hair to wash it every day of your life.

Treasurer: Brittany Robinson

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN: Are you pumped to be the 2016-2017 Executive Board Treasurer?

BR: I have never been so excited for something in my entire life. Every night before I drift off to sleep, I remember that I’m on Exec next year. A ton of adrenaline starts pumping through me and I start doing furious push-ups and sit-ups. I haven’t slept in weeks.

AN: What made you decide to run for Treasurer?

BR: I figured since math is what I struggle most with in school, this position would be awesome for me! But in all seriousness, I wanted to take a position that would challenge me everyday.

AN: Did you get nervous while delivering your speech?

BR: Oh, of course. I couldn’t feel my legs throughout the whole of my speech and for several minutes after. They almost had to lend me crutches to get to my 1st period.

AN: Favorite Justin Bieber song?

BR: It’s less of a song and more of an eternal classic- “Eenie Meenie.”

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

BR: I can quote the entirety of “Shrek 2,” including the soundtrack music.

Public Relator: Taylor Lawritson

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN: How excited are you to be on Executive Board next year?

TL: If I had to quantify the level of my excitement, I would have to say that it falls on the same level as the excitement Leslie Knope felt when she met Joe Biden.

AN: Are you nervous about reading the announcements every day next year?

TL: I’m so nervous about reading the announcements next year. Ever since I announced my candidacy, random people have been giving me tips, but all of the advice I’ve been getting has majorly conflicted. Some people want me to be really animated and outgoing, and others prefer a public relator who is more laid back in the mornings and keeps it calm so as not to be annoying. At the moment, I think I’ve decided that I’m going to pull a Troy Bolton and do a little bit of both.

AN: How did you feel when you found out you won?

TL: I was really shocked. I had thought for sure that I had lost, and so I had spent the whole day kind of bracing myself for the blow. I actually ended up having a dentist’s appointment that day, so I wasn’t actually at school when I found out. I kind of dawdled around my dentist’s office after my appointment for a few minutes, to ensure that I would be driving at 2:45 when I knew they would announce the winners. I didn’t want to be staring at my phone, waiting for someone to deliver the bad news and I never check my phone when I drive, so I was trying to prolong what I thought was inevitable disappointment for as long as I possibly could. When I finally checked my phone it was flooded with texts. I think I had received about 124 congratulatory text messages. It still hasn’t completely settled in yet that I get to be on Exec Board.

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

TL: I think that tripping during speeches is kind of my lucky omen. When I ran for Sophomore Student Council, I accidentally tripped over the microphone wire while walking up to give my speech. I ended up winning for Vice President after that, which was surprising. The next year, when I ran for Junior Student Council, I was careful not to trip and I ended up losing.

Stewardship: Jamie Ganem

Ellee Forsythe ’17

AN: What are you most excited about for being on Executive Board next year?

JG: I’m excited to be a leader of the school and to help plan all the fun activities for Xavier. I’ll really get to use my creativity and innovation to help make the next year awesome!

AN: How did you feel when you found out you won?

JG: Oh my gosh, I was so confused! I actually was not even at school, I was on a bus going to a lacrosse game. I was so anxious the entire day, I almost couldn’t focus. At around 2:40 my sister texted me saying I won; I almost started crying because I was so happy. Then everyone started congratulating me, I felt so relieved and excited!

AN: Where did you get the ideas for your super funny speech?

JG:  I’m not really sure what made me decide to write it. I just wrote it one Sunday afternoon at my grandma’s house. Honestly, I didn’t even think it was that funny. Oh well.

AN: Is there anything else you want the school to know about you?

JG: I may look like one, but I am NOT a freshman.