Orono High School Student Senate produces students with leadership traits in which are executed in classroom and from practicing time and stress management, teamwork and accountability.
Senators are now required to log their hours in order to remain accountable to their class.
“Students take ownership for the well being of their school,” said Grace Nohner, Orono Senate adviser. “It’s important that the senators put in work towards making the school a better place.”
At the state level, the Orono Senate earned the Minnesota Student Council of the Year Award by the Minnesota Association of Student Councils. Erickson was recognized by the National Association Student Council’s Platinum Lifetime Achievement Award due to 30 years of dedication to student council activities.
“Sometimes we will give some of our funding to help start up new clubs and organizations,” said Orono Senate adviser Doug Erickson. “Elections can be skewed toward those who are more popular, so senate created HOLA as another leadership opportunity because you do not have to be elected to be a leader.”
Senate is responsible for the planning and execution of dances, activity weeks, homecoming floats, parade and variety shows during the year. The idea of the parade was brought to the surface from a senate meeting which was eventually brought to the school board.
“If there was no senate, not a lot would get done around here,” said student body Vice President Danny Willson. “We do a lot of the unnoticed, background work with planning and setting up activities.”
Student senate works hard to coordinate students and efforts with Character Counts, DECA and HOLA. A goal for this year is to design a food drive coordination with those group in order to benefit the community.
“As a senate, we want to increase participation in activities so that everyone that wants to be involved can have that opportunity to be a leader,” said Erickson.
The Student Council Evaluations and Accomplishments of 2011 – 2012 documented progress of last year and the goals for the next year. Items of concern included poor attendance at sporting events, coordinating fundraising events and shorter periods on Spartan Hour days.
“The point of senate is created by those involved, ” said student body President Jeff Sauer. “We have had some excellent forms of leadership over the last few years, and we hope that we can continue this trend by tackling the items of concern from last year.”
Students gain leadership traits by going to leadership conventions. An example of this is the LEDE conference in Chicago and the State Leadership Conference in Rochester, MN. The techniques learned at the events are brought back with the students to put into practice at the high school.
Taylor Peterson is the Editor in Chief – Print for The Spartan Speaks.
