Athens Drive’s student government sponsors and participates in many activities in an attempt to represent the student body. Elections for office took place April 8 in homeroom.

The student government is responsible for hosting programs, sponsoring events, and promoting student clubs and organizations.

“I think that over the years our student body population has shifter often enough that it has been a little difficult to establish ‘traditions’. The challenge of the Student Government is how to engage a majority of the school over the long term in activities that will help establish a school identity,” said Ken Davenport, history teacher and coordinator of the Student Council.

The student government also plans prom and spirit week.

“The junior class did Homecoming in the fall and made floats. We planned all of prom,” Abigail Bennett, junior class representative, said.

According to faqs.org, the history of American student government goes back as far as the nineteenth century. Widespread expansion of democracy within institutions were rooted from the belief that students can learn from taking on responsibilities within their own institutions. Progressives and advocates of educational reform saw self-rule as a way to prevent political bosses in the future. Promoters argued that students experiencing democracy within schools would make them practical citizens.

In the 1920s, the National Student Federation, the first national student organization, promoted reforms on education and opposed student restrictions. A focus on student life called for an increase in student representation. The student government then became more responsible for sponsoring student activities, promoting school spirit, and organizing assemblies. During World War II, buying war bonds were encouraged; student councils held drives to promote these bonds. Postwar, student government was an expected aspect of student life. College student government reached an all-time high in popularity.

As higher populations of demographically diverse students began to represent the student body, the demand for social justice and equality within institutions rose. This called for even more involvement in student affairs from the student government. However, in the 1960’s, more students got involved in civil rights movements, thus,  student government importance declined.

Student government offices include president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. Each grade also elects ten class representatives. Athens Drive’s elections for next year’s offices have concluded; senior class co- presidents will be Amber Doyle and Michael Lee, Kyndall Shaw will be vice president, Katherine Clapp will be secretary and Sarah Huffman will be treasurer.

Of the junior class, Mary Grace Bunch and Shaelyn Raleigh were elected as co-presidents, the vice president is Asa Meenteneyer, the secretary is Mallory Tate, and Bethany Bernstein is the treasurer.

Carsin Gronbach and Hamza Khan will represent the Sophomore student body as co-Presidents. Bryanna Smith was elected as the vice president, Laurenn Vestal is the secretary, and Kate Huffman is treasurer.

Most recently, the student government sponsored a teacher appreciation week raffle.

Under the Twitter hashtag #ADHSteacherweek, students would post selfies with a teacher, which would then be posted in the senior hall. The teacher would be placed into a raffle and the top three picked won prizes.

Through student government, students are given opportunities to learn and improve on leadership skills, which include team building, making a difference, and prioritizing. “I joined student government freshman year to get involved but I actually enjoyed it. Every year, I’ve gotten more and more involved in it,” Bennett said.

While Davenport is retiring this year, he did enjoy every aspect of coordinating student government.

“When I was hired, I was told I would have to advise one of two student organizations- Student Government or Key Club. I chose Student Government because I enjoyed that in my own high school,” Davenport said. “I hope that students will learn leadership, organization, and public presentation. Students need to identify things to be done, or things that could be done, and then go about figuring out how to do them.”