Oak Ridge students to lead Hilltop student council

SPARTA — Two Hilltop students from Oak Ridge have recently been elected to lead the award-winning Hilltop Student Council to another successful year in 2016-17.
Seventh-graders Chloe Clancy and James LaFratte were elected as president and vice president, respectively. They will be succeeding Student Council President Karina Frangella of Sparta, and Student Council Vice President Abigail Morris of Andover, who are both slated to graduate Hilltop in June.
Morris will go on to attend Blair Academy and Frangella will attend Sparta High School.
“Student Council is one of the many opportunities Hilltop students have to practice leadership, public speaking, collaboration and problem solving,” Head of School Peter Gordon said. “These skills are an essential part of a Hilltop education.”
Clancy and LaFratte were two of five student candidates vying for the two open seats. Leading up to the election, all the candidates engaged in a campaign process where they created and displayed unique election posters and shared their platforms with the student body. After a week on the campaign trail, each candidate came before the entire school to give their speech and share their proposed contributions to the Hilltop Student Council — a governing student body that has received the National Gold Council of Excellence Award from the National Association of Student Councils for eight years in a row.
Ultimately, Clancy and LaFratte swayed their peers with their ideas and proposals that included: dress down days to support Andover Animal Hospital, creating a student entrepreneurship program, hosting more game nights, bake sales and extending school dance times.
“I will make sure your ideas are heard,” Clancy told the student body. “I will fight for the things that are important to the students no matter how big or small.”
Student Council is one of many leadership opportunities offered to Hilltop students. Students are also able to step up in the Grade 8 peer leadership P.E.A.K.S. Program, serve as classroom representatives and become vocal ensemble leaders, among others.