With all the new changes in the school—including phone pouches and new administrators—Student Council Association (SCA) president Caroline South and Student Government Association (SGA) president Evie Price are ready to lead through the transition. With differences in school policies and administrative staff from previous years, these presidents are prepared to guide students smoothly into the next school year, and there are no students better suited for the job.
South has been a part of SCA since her freshman year, moving from third vice president to second, then first, and now president. Her responsibilities have included administrative work and participating in a variety of traditions such as chalking the day before the first day of school, the Pep Rally, the Thanksgiving Assembly, the SCA Olympics, and more. Her goal has been to create an environment where the whole school can be involved and feel connected.
“As vice president, my job was to help the president lead,” South said. “I would manage different committees, communicate with teachers and students, and come up with ideas we could implement. As president, my job is to assign roles to others to ensure the events go as planned. I will also be working closely with the administrators.”
The SCA and SGA, while performing similar roles, have different missions for the school year. The SCA organizes schoolwide events such as spirit weeks, pep rallies, assemblies, the Olympics, and the annual blood drive. The SGA focuses on grade-specific activities like fundraisers, hallway decorating, and movie nights. Each grade also plans one major event a year, including Homecoming, Prom, Spring Fling, or the Holiday Bazaar.
“What motivates me to be a part of the Student Council Association is the chance to represent my peers and help ensure school events run smoothly,” South said. “I love planning activities for the school and meeting new people through the work we do. I collaborate with many people, like the other council members, students, teachers, and administrators. All of these people want to make a difference and are driven, so it is a great environment to be in.”
South is a leader inside and out and is involved throughout the Arlington community. Her other roles in SCA before this year have prepared her to be president. She is also the president of the Women’s Rights Initiative, which has strengthened her confidence and willingness to reach out to people. Through this role, she met with the president of the National Organization for Women, which gave her valuable experience in leading a large membership group. She also serves on the Girl Advisory Board for Girl Scouts, an opportunity that has made her more independent and decisive. On the board, members make phone calls and reach out to universities to get their projects implemented in schools. She has gained valuable skills in public speaking and scheduling—both essential for leadership.
“I want my legacy at the school to be one of communication, organization, and impact,” South said. “Not only through Student Council, but also through clubs, sports, and everyday interactions, I want to be remembered as someone who was easy to talk to and share ideas with. I also want to leave behind organized systems that future SCA officers can use later on. Student Council members’ roles are not only about planning events, but also about making people feel included and welcome in our school community, and I aim to be seen as one of these officers.”
After high school, South is planning to go to college and major in environmental science, possibly minoring in American Sign Language (just for fun!). Her goal is to make a positive impact on struggling ecosystems.
Evie Price is another female leader for the Class of 2026. She has served as the SGA Class President throughout all four years of high school. Her main roles are to help lead and organize events and to distribute tasks to the other members of SGA.
“I have been a part of student government or student council since third grade,” Price said. “I love being involved in my school, and I love planning events to bring our school community together. I was motivated to be a member of student government to serve our grade and to plan fun events that help others gather.”
The seniors in SGA are already planning events for the school year, the first being Senior Sunrise—an event where the senior class can gather and celebrate the start of their final year of high school. They have also begun planning Homecoming, which is the responsibility of the senior student government each year. Their main goal is to make this year’s Homecoming the best one yet and to maximize participation so everyone feels included and excited to attend.
“I would want my legacy at the school to be that I led events that other students found meaningful and that contributed to their experience here,” Price said.
Price has gained significant leadership experience outside of SGA as well. As a member of Model General Assembly, she ran for and was elected to the 79th Virginia Youth Governor position. This prestigious role will continue to open doors for her as she represents the youth of Virginia.
“One [other] leadership role that really prepared me for leading in student government this year was being the captain of the school’s girls’ lacrosse team,” Price said. “I think one of the hardest parts about being a leader is knowing how to hold people accountable and how to allocate work appropriately. It can be really difficult when you are friends or teammates with the people you work with. Being one of the captains of my lacrosse team taught me how to be a better leader.”
After high school, Price hopes to go to college and be a part of student government wherever she attends.
“Student government is such a great way to make meaningful relationships and give back to your community, and I can’t see myself ever not being involved,” Price said.
