Student presidents are a voice for their classmates, influence positive change, and are a role model for their student body community, while also tackling classes, sports, and extracurricular activities. We are proud to feature many of our local schools’ student body presidents and senior class presidents, elected by their peers to lead their schools and uphold community values.
Adison Coleman
Student Body Co-President, Soddy Daisy High School
Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? The biggest lesson I’ve learned through my leadership positions is developing a greater ability to delegate tasks. Impact you want to make on the world? I simply want to make the world better in any way possible. Where would you like to travel? I would like to visit a European country. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? I want to continue to develop my leadership skills, make significant advancements in the medical field, and have a fulfilling job. Proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment in leadership is serving on the Tennessee Association of Student Councils executive board for the past two years, currently serving as secretary co-host.
Ryan Jenkins
Student Body Co-President, Soddy Daisy High School
Proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is serving as a student member of the Hamilton County School Board and on the Tennessee Association of Student Councils Executive Board. Where would you like to travel? I’d like to travel to Israel, the Holy Land, because it is a historically rich and very special place. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? Three things I’d like to accomplish in life are having a family, building a career that I enjoy and that serves the public, and being able to look back and say I used my voice to empower people and communities. Higher education or career goals? I would like to attend college in Nashville so I can work at the Tennessee State Capitol, pursue a degree in public administration, and build a career on the administrative side of government where I can serve people daily.
Mia Brunetz
Student Council President, Girls Preparatory School
Person you admire most? My grandmother, because she has always encouraged me to be confident in who I am and to never back down from challenges. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? Three things I would like to accomplish are to travel to all seven continents; to be a loyal, kind, and enduring friend; and to be open to new experiences and grow from setbacks. Where would you like to travel? Australia and New Zealand with my grandfather because it is his dream to visit there. Proudest accomplishment? Even when things have been tough, I’ve stayed focused on my leadership roles and the purpose behind them. Is there anything you’d like to add? I would like to thank my family and my teachers for driving me to be the best version of myself.
Dakari Sheats
Senior Class President, Chattanooga Preparatory School
Proudest accomplishment? Junior year I finished with a 4.0 GPA and I am currently on pace to achieve that goal again this year. Being senior class president is a big leadership role because I have to learn how to communicate formally, manage many things in the school and community, and advocate for fellow classmates. Impact you want to make on the world? I want to help kids get access to higher education and provide them all the opportunities to better their lives. I would also like to help the students that have ADHD be able to use that to their advantage the same way I have. Higher education or career goals? I would like to attend the University of Tennessee, Knoxville to major in finance and accounting. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? Make a greater impact on the world, influence the people around me, and have a successful career doing the things I enjoy.
Naveen Jestice
Senior Class President, Center for Creative Arts
Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? How to work and negotiate with others – often the solution is a compromise rather than a singular mission by any one party. Proudest accomplishment? My proudest educational accomplishment was getting into the Tennessee Governor’s School for International Studies – I worked incredibly hard and it was one of the most fun experiences of my life. Person you admire most? Malcolm X, I feel he always stuck to the values he believed in and showed an incredible ability to adapt and change as he grew as a person and a leader. He was also an amazing public speaker. Higher education or career goals? The current plan is to get a master’s degree and hopefully go into politics of some kind, be it a politician, journalist, or social worker –wherever the social sciences and writing intersect.
Jordan Franklin
Student Body Co-President, Boyd-Buchanan School
Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? You can’t please everyone because everyone has different opinions, and for that reason some people won’t like the decisions you make. It’s important to not let everyone’s opinions get to you or deter you from making a decision for the betterment of yourself or the majority. Higher education or career goals? After high school, I plan on going to college, then law school. I’d like to be a lawyer but also work in the entertainment industry, possibly as a film producer. Where would you like to travel? I would love to visit the Amalfi Coast in Italy. It is truly a breathtaking corner of the world that offers both natural and man-made beauty within its environment. Anything you’d like to add? I have several hobbies, which include playing guitar, photography, theater, dance, cooking, and different forms of exercise.
Stella Lovitt
Student Body Co-President, Boyd-Buchanan School
Proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment has been the ability to serve on my school’s student council for the entirety of my high school career, all while balancing academics and athletics. Person you admire most? I admire my dad for his work ethic and how he treats others. He is always willing to put in the extra time to help other people when he can. He is humble, selfless, and Jesus loving, and I hope to be just like him one day. Where would you like to travel? I would love to travel to New York City because I want to experience the energy of the area and see famous landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, and the Brooklyn Bridge. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? In my future, I hope to be successful in my career, have a loving family, and serve others as Jesus did.
Bao Long Hoang
Senior Class President, East Ridge High School
Impact you want to make on the world? I want to help people financially, and get into entrepreneurship and philanthropy. Proudest accomplishment? As class president, I’ve helped with many fundraising campaigns, such as the candygram program, which raised a lot of money for the school. Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? I’ve learned how to collaborate with people and that skill is something that people need. Person you admire most? I admire Bruce Lee. He was an icon and he pioneered Asian representation in the United States. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? I want to help my family, have my own family, and be able to provide for everyone in my family.
William Hubbard
Honor Council Chair, Baylor School
Proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment is working with Habitat for Humanity over the summer. It was immensely rewarding to see my efforts bring homes closer to completion and families closer to homes. Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? I have learned the importance of listening to understand rather than listening to respond. This approach sometimes creates short pauses in conversation, but these short pauses are when progress is made. Impact you want to make on the world? I want to bring more integrity and laughter into the world. While these may seem unrelated, I have discovered through my life experiences that they almost always come together. Higher education or career goals? I am excited to continue studying engineering and Mandarin in college.
Grayson Bailey
Senior Class President, Sale Creek High School
Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? There is such a thing as putting too much on your plate at once … take each day and each task you’re faced with step by step. Higher education or career goals? I plan to attend Middle Tennessee State University to pursue a career in sports broadcasting/journalism. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? Become an on-air personality as a leader in sports production, achieve the “American Dream” with a wife and children to help me succeed, and leave a lasting impact on at least one person in my lifetime that will lead them to an eternity in Heaven. Impact you want to make on the world? Spreading my faith in God and putting a smile on people’s faces through the widespread reach of my career path.
Reese Shields
Student Council President, Chattanooga Christian School
Proudest accomplishment? Getting to be a part of multiple missions trips to Peru where I had the opportunity to meet people and learn about how they lead their communities inspired my view of leadership and broadened my knowledge of the world. I think this has equipped me to be creative and bold in my leadership decisions at CCS. Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? Leading is more about serving than accomplishing an agenda. Nothing will turn out exactly how you thought it would, and not everyone will agree on the decisions you make, but it is important to do your best to serve the people you lead. Where would you like to travel? I would love to spend a chunk of time traveling around Spain and staying in smaller cities. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? Study abroad/live in another country, be a mom, and run a marathon.
Trent McCary
Student Body President, Silverdale Baptist Academy
Proudest accomplishment? My proudest accomplishment was last year, when I aided my class in changing the new exam exemption policy. We, as a class, were able to propose a grandfathering method solution for the policy, in which we were able to set up the academy for fairness in the future. Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? Being a leader means making choices that help move everyone forward. Not every decision is easy, but each one is an opportunity to learn, grow, and bring people together. Even when opinions differ, staying focused on what’s best for the group helps create a stronger community – and in the end, it always works out for the good. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? My wish is to settle with a wife and kids where we all faithfully serve the Lord, open up my own doctor’s office for pediatrics, and travel the country by train.
Jada Welch
Senior Class President, Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School
Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? The biggest lesson I have learned is to keep everyone included and reassure others that everyone’s opinions and ideas matter. Impact you want to make on the world? The impact that I would like to make on the world is sharing love and positivity. You never know what anyone may go through behind closed doors. Even if it’s just the kind courtesy of a smile, little acts of kindness can change a person’s whole day. Person you admire most? My grandparents are the two people I admire the most. Higher education or career goals? My biggest career goal in life is to become a radiology technician. Anything you’d like to add? As class president of the seniors, I hope I can make it possible to give our class the best senior year I am capable of giving!
Emmaleigh Shaw
Senior Class President, Walker Valley High School
Proudest accomplishment? My role as class president in SGA, and all of the service that I get to do with that. Being in SGA has taught me that to achieve my goals I have to be willing to work for both myself and others. Person you admire most? The two people I admire most are my mom and dad. They always work so hard to make sure my siblings and I are happy, and I look up to them so much. Impact you want to make on the world? My biggest goal is to serve the people in need. Where would you like to travel? I would love to travel all around Europe, specifically Paris, London, or Rome. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? I want to make a lasting impact on others, be successful in my career, and find the things that fill me with genuine joy.
Aidan Castellanet
Student Body President, Signal Mountain Middle High School
Impact you want to make on the world? I want to be remembered as a kind, driven individual who dedicated their energy toward creating positive change and uplifting others. Throughout my life, I hope to demonstrate that ambition and empathy can work together; that it’s possible to lead with strength and compassion. Whether through service, leadership, or my everyday actions, I aspire to make a lasting difference in my community and to leave behind a legacy defined by my integrity, perseverance, and genuine care for others. Higher education or career goals? My goal is to pursue a job in the field of aerospace engineering. The largest factor for me is to love whatever it is that I’m doing. Person you admire most? My grandfather. He has faced a lot of adversity in his lifetime, yet he is always there for everyone. His wisdom and support have helped me grow.
DaLana Brown
Captain of the House of Fortis, Notre Dame High School
Impact you want to make on the world? I want to bring people closer to God and help those who are struggling. My goal is to make the world a kinder place by showing compassion and supporting the less fortunate, spreading love and faith wherever I can. Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? Listening is key. It is not just about telling people what to do, but really hearing what they need. When you listen, you build trust and work better together. Higher education or career goals? I plan to get my bachelor’s degree and go to medical school to become an anesthesiologist. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? I hope to help the homeless by giving back and making their lives better, become an anesthesiologist or brain surgeon and make an impact on people’s health, and own land and animals.
Brooklyn Smith
Senior Class President, Red Bank High School
Impact you want to make on the world? The biggest impact I want to make on the world is to make people feel as seen and valued as I can, especially in moments they feel unacknowledged. I believe that feeling understood is life-changing and creates a ripple effect that can positively impact many others. Where would you like to travel? In the U.S., I’ve always wanted to visit Hawaii, and internationally, Greece is at the top of my list. Three things you hope to accomplish in life? Pursue a career in sports psychology to support the mental wellness of athletes, continue to grow as an uplifting and compassionate leader, and build a life where I stay true to myself and my values. Person you admire most? My mom. She has always been my biggest supporter and taught me the importance of being authentically yourself, something I will forever be grateful for.
Avery Crago
Senior Class President, Grace Academy
Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? The biggest lesson I have learned is not to rely solely on myself but to use the support around me. Using their strength allows me to better serve others. Person you admire most? The person who I admire most is the one who has served me the most, my mom. She has never failed to support me and always shown me love. The comfort and stability I receive from her is what I attribute much of my success to. Impact you want to make on the world? The impact I want to make on the world is one of Christ-like love and leadership. I want to reflect Christ’s leadership and humility on earth by serving those around me in any way I can. Higher education or career goals? I want to go into the medical field. My preferred career is in radiology technology.
Caroline Neubauer
Honor Council President, St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School
Proudest accomplishment? As Interact Club president, I appreciate the opportunity I have to organize and partake in meaningful service projects that impact my immediate community. Impact you want to make on the world? Regardless of where life takes me, I hope to inspire kindness and empathy. Biggest lesson you’ve learned through leadership positions? Through finding my own voice as a leader, I have learned that leadership is not limited to one personality or style. It is important to embrace your own unique capabilities while recognizing and appreciating the wide variety of perspectives around you. Where would you like to travel? I would love to backpack through the mountains of New Zealand. Higher education or career goals? I plan to pursue environmental science in college and hope to utilize my degree in order to generate positive change.
Cullen Henry
Senior Class President, East Hamilton High School
Proudest accomplishment? My proudest academic accomplishments are earning the Advanced Placement Capstone Diploma and being named AP Scholar with Distinction as a result of earning a top score of 5 on AP exams in six different areas. Impact you want to make on the world? I would like to be able to help the world through kindness. Everyone can help make the world a better place by allowing love to triumph over hate. Person you admire most? I admire my grandfather the most as he is one of the kindest and wisest people that I have ever met. I hope to be half the man he is. Higher education or career goals? I plan on going to college for pre-med, either for biology or neuroscience, so I can go to medical school to eventually become a neurosurgeon. I also like to act in school and community shows and hope to continue acting in college and beyond.
