As spring settles over the Island and seniors prepare to graduate, the Loomis Chaffee Student Council has wrapped up another year of leadership, service, and change. On Tuesday, May 13, students casted their ballots for next year’s Council, and while the results were announced on Tuesday, May 20th, it’s worthwhile to reflect on the legacy left by this year’s outgoing executive team: President Sara Feged ’25, Vice Presidents Michaela Howe ’25 and William Chun ’25, and Secretary-Treasurer Penelope Struthers ’25.
Vice Presidents William Chun and Michaela Howe both emphasized the Council’s efforts to expand student input, collaborate meaningfully with the administration, and build stronger community ties.
“I really enjoyed working with such a dedicated group of students,” Michaela said, noting how the council’s four-grade structure enabled collaboration across different class years. “I was able to meet so many great people who really cared about improving Loomis life!”
Michaela cited the organization and execution of All-School Meetings as a particularly memorable experience. “They took a lot of planning and attention to detail,” she said. “I think overall they were as positive an experience as the format allows.” She also supported this year’s Benefit Concert task group and praised the initiative of younger students in shaping the event. “I think the concert itself was very successful and engaging.”
William commented on the Council’s work with the school’s senior leadership on long-term institutional planning. “This Strategic Plan lays the groundwork for Loomis’ core values,” he explained, referencing the plan’s updated mission statement and goals vís a vís sustainability; diversity and inclusion; and engagement with the town of Windsor. “It reflects both short-term priorities and long-term development.”
In addition to policy-level input, William emphasized the significance of the numerous proposals that passed this year. Among them was the creation of the Staff Member of the Year Award, and the installation of a student-designed dispenser in the Scanlan Campus Center. “We also ran a very successful Benefit Concert on April 4 and raised more than $1,800 for Sandy Hook Promise,” he added.
Further initiatives included a pilot of revamped All-School Dinners, which now feature higher food budgets, randomized seating, and games to encourage meaningful peer connections across classes. “We will continue next year with termly gatherings on Grubbs Quad and complementary residential dinners in dormitories [to] foster community in boarding and day spaces,” William said.
Serving as both secretary and treasurer, Penelope Struthers played a central role in maintaining the operational integrity of the Council. “My tasks lean more on the secretary side… coordinating every election, both the student council and class officers,” she said. Her responsibilities included managing communications, keeping proposal records, tracking votes, and running the Council’s official Instagram page. “One thing that I will carry with me is efficient note-taking,” Penelope added. “But on a more serious note, I think this past year has taught me how to address the administration and students in a formal yet approachable voice.”
The four officers emphasized that this year’s Student Council benefited from a strong sense of cooperation and a shared commitment to institutional improvement—values they hope next year’s leaders will sustain and develop further.
“I hope that the next Student Council continues to improve and discuss the format of StuCo in order to make the most out of meeting times and improve productivity,” Michaela said.
William , for his part, encouraged the incoming council to keep student engagement at the forefront. “Next year’s team should continue fostering community-building and school-engaging activities during All-School Meetings, and bring the best out of each individual member.”
Penelope’s advice, on the other hand, featured a nod to the pressures that come with leadership. “While there are moments of receiving 25 emails within the span of 30 minutes, and everything seems to be hectic, it will all work out in the end,” she said.
The 2024-25 leadership council concluded its term having helped not only policy wise, but also by instilling a wider vision of what student leadership can be: responsive, representative, and rooted in purpose.
Looking to the 2025-2026 school year, incoming President Charlotte Preuss ’26 remarked: “I’m honored to be in a position that many people look up to. I’m really excited to work with Daniel Gao(incoming Vice President), Shane Lischin(incoming Vice President), and Lilly Oslin(incoming secretary-treasurer) as I know we’re going to work great together and have a very successful year!”
