Upper school elections have been a staple of the school’s culture for decades. 2026’s election marked the first time students could run for the position of the Spartan, alongside previously available positions on the Student Technology Committee, Student Activities Committee and Upper School Council.
Elections were held Thursday, May 7 at an upper school assembly, where the participants gave speeches representing their campaigns. Most candidates ran unopposed in their respective categories, except for USC secretary and USC co-presidents.

Junior Gavin Leuthold was elected for USC secretary, sophomores Caleb Colton and Sophie Karmaliani were elected as USC co-vice presidents and juniors Sofia Rivera and Aldegundo Brenneman as USC co-presidents. Juniors Nico Martin and Richard Romans will be the Spartans.
STC grade level representative Pete Hovan feels that communication with administration is important in committees, and that STC is crucial to the school community, despite its small number of representatives.

“One of the reasons I’m running for STC … [is] because it’s very important for us students to be able to talk with [administration] about how we think certain tech policies should be integrated,” ze said. “But [the issue of tech policies has] never been the most popular… As someone who is interested in technology and how we use it … it is really important that we continue to have people who are interested … doing it.”

Hovan hopes to continue to work towards improving the school community in the upcoming year.
“I like being with a lot of other like-minded peers who are … thinking about how it’s very important how we use technology in the school space,” ze said. “It’s pretty cool to be able to make … actual change in our school policy.”

This year, USC made changes in the community. They ended Meatless Wednesdays after a poll of the student body in the 2024-2025 school year found 65% disliked the lunch, but previously no policy change was made.

“This year, I tried … again, sent out another form, and again, we got a majority of people saying they wanted to remove it, and we did,” USC representative Zack Berchenko said.

Next year, some candidates plan to take similar strides to benefit the community. For example, Rivera and Brenneman hope to create an open gradebook to reduce academic pressure.

“I think if students had access to where they were, they’d be able to plan out their time and where they want to spend the most energy,” Rivera said.

The co-presidents also hope to reform the tardy policy and increase community-building within and across grade levels.

Rivera looks forward to her new role as USC co-president after being on the council throughout high school. She also participated in a similar committee in middle school.

“I’m absolutely elated. … I think being able to be USC president is kind of a culmination of my love for [this school],” she said. “I’m just really excited to express my gratitude to everybody by hopefully representing [them] the way that they want to be represented.”

Next year, the elected and selected committees will continue to make changes and work towards a healthier, better community.