The class of 2026 departing has current students already looking towards the future, finding changes they want to see implemented at school. Class leaders have been the backbone for change at South, presenting ideas to the administration time and time again.
Notable leaders have begun taking it upon themselves to see change at South, introducing service ideas, plans and even new events to add. Lucas Curtis ’27 has been elected as the new National Honors Society (NHS) president, as well as the Student Government president heading into next year, and has already begun presenting ideas to his peers.
“I would like to implement a winter formal, just to bring the school closer together and to have fun,” Curtis said. “I also want to have a point system where if you attend sporting events you get points and you can use those points to redeem rewards to encourage attendance not just at football games.”
It has been a fast two months for Curtis, as he rushed into both roles, but has kept his composure and dealt with situations as they have occurred. Because he wants the NHS to make a bigger impact on the community, he has presented ideas to help direct the club in that direction.
“I would like to make the NHS more service project oriented, to help the community out,” Curtis said. “Next year, I would like us to also do a number of fundraisers to help raise money for South so we can spend more money to improve the school and school events.”
Other students in different organizations have also taken steps in looking towards the future. Henry Getz ’28, returning sophomore secretary, has already expressed his ideas for a more comfortable version of the school day, taking into consideration complaints he has heard.
“I think the biggest complaint I hear is the length of lunch, which is shorter than every other period, and doesn’t leave kids much time to take a break from school, especially if they go off campus,” Getz said. “A simple fix is taking a minute from each class and adding it to lunch. It’s one minute less of learning, but seven more minutes of lunchtime which seems pretty fair to me.”
Leaving her impact on these newly elected governors of South, Heidi Bryan ’26 still has proposals for the future. Bryan is the senior class president and has experienced challenges in the logistics of making changes, but is optimistic for next year. Bryan has advice for the next group of leaders, but also all students looking to make their voices heard.
“I think something that can definitely still be worked on is being more inclusive and just moving past tradition, times have changed and we need to just move on,” Bryan said. “Go to admin, tell them what you want, because if you don’t go to them nothing is ever going to happen.”
