When Charlotte Preuss ’26 walked onto Loomis Chaffee’s campus as a freshman, she never imagined she’d one day be leading the student body. Now, as the 2025–2026 Student Council President, she hopes to leave Loomis not just with memories, but with lasting change.

Preuss’s main goal this year is to redefine how the Student Council (StuCo) approaches the concept of change. Instead of focusing on smaller issues through task groups, she would like to implement committees that result in larger, more tangible outcomes for the Loomis community. 

“StuCo will operate on the foundation of a few, broader committees that are each fundamental to student life,” Preuss said. Potential areas of improvement, Preuss notes, include enhancing the international student experience, expanding awareness on student mental health, and promoting more conscientious use of technology. In other words, improvements that promote more holistic thinking and improve the Loomis experience for students and faculty alike. 

“I hope through our restructuring of StuCo time, we can make it clear how much work StuCo does and how much it really impacts the student body,” stated Preuss. Students often overlook the extent of StuCo’s impact on the campus as the work of task groups may seem rather small-scale. Yet in perspective, StuCo is constantly working towards, in Preuss’s words, a “happier and healthier” community. She firmly believes that this new approach will enhance collaboration between the administration and students, leading to an appreciation for all voices. 

Preuss emphasized her desire to be known as an ordinary school girl around campus, sharing the same kind of smiles and struggles as any other Pelican. 

“Throughout my years here, I never really saw people in big leadership positions struggling or speaking out when things were hard,” she shares. Preuss believes that the only way for her past experiences to resonate with current underclassmen is by having these conversations. Vulnerability, in Preuss’s eyes, is the key to nurturing connections. 

When asked about her favorite Loomis memory, Preuss mentioned the cool-down run with her cross-country teammates after the New England’s Championship at Hotchkiss. “It was the perfect end to the season after a great race. [We] cooled down around campus and listened to music. It was just the best feeling,” Preuss recalled. 

Now, reflecting on her Loomis experience, Preuss expressed that Loomis changed her as a person and taught her much about herself. “When I first came here, I never would have imagined I would be Student Council president, giving speeches like former StuCo President Kirsten Lees ‘23, who I watched on the first day of school,” said Preuss.

Thanking Loomis for providing her with opportunities, Preuss additionally shared, “Loomis is responsible for a large part of my work ethic. It has taught me how to stay organized, get things done on time, and be efficient in my work.”