GMHS Lasso Online News Story

Downey Elected VP in Only Contested Race
Candidates, Officers-Elect Discuss
Qualifications, Plans for SCA

By Sarah Van Buren and Margaret Lipman (April 4, 2006)

Six uncontested officers-elect and three candidates for vice president of the Student Council Association gave speeches to the student body on Thursday about their qualifications for office and their plans for the upcoming school year. Surprisingly, only the office of vice president was contested – by not only two, but three students – in the elections for the Executive Council of the SCA, which includes four committee chairs and three officers.

Junior Will Stewart, the current SCA secretary, will serve as SCA president next year, replacing Emily Walden. During his speech, he stressed his long-term involvement in the SCA and addressed students’ skepticism about the actual leverage that the SCA holds.

“It’s not about power,” he said. “The SCA has limits, but we have yet to reach these limits.”

Juniors Tiffany Huyser and Graham Downey and sophomore Ramsey Kincannon all participated in the race to replace Emma O’Hara as vice president, with Downey eventually coming out on top. Huyser, who is serving in the SCA Executive Council this year, discussed her hopes for more student involvement in SCA activities in 2006-2007, which she felt could best be accomplished through better communication and publicity. Downey, a first-time candidate to the SCA, described himself as self-confident, responsible, and willing to listen to ideas. He discussed his intentions to make the SCA more involved in student life through after-school activities like dodgeball or badminton tournaments. Kincannon proposed that he was the best candidate for the position because, according to him, “I have no life – so I can be more committed to the projects and ideas you want.” He also made it clear that, “unlike the national VP, I won’t shoot at you and I won’t shoot down your ideas,” as well as his belief that the people who matter most in the SCA are not the officers but the entire student body.

Ninth grader Jake Savage served as a visual aid of sorts for sophomore Dana Cazan’s speech during the SCA elections assembly. Cazan will co-chair the Community Service Committee next year with fellow sophomore Allie Atkeson. (Photo by Sean Butler)

Sophomore Susanna Sullivan, who is currently on the SCA Executive Council, will serve as secretary next year. In her speech, she discussed her role in organizing SCA activities and said that she felt “confident [that] next year will be the best yet.”

Sophomores Allie Atkeson and Dana Cazan, both new to the SCA, will serve as co-chairs of the Community Service Committee. In her speech, Cazan discussed their goal to raise student awareness about service projects, especially in helping GM’s sister city in the Congo. Freshman Will Cunningham will be the chairman of the Publicity Committee. Cunningham proposed starting a new column in the Falls Church News Press to alert students and parents about upcoming GM events. Eighth-grader Emilio Ramos will chair the Student Life Committee, which is charged with ensuring general student happiness with school. He discussed plans to improve the quality and menu in the cafeteria and locker room privacy. Finally, sophomore Adam Gann will serve as chairman of the Teacher/Student Recognition Committee. He hoped to elevate teacher/student recognition on the school agenda and to expand awards to include a broader variety of achievement, not only academic accomplishment.