SpicyTricks

The winners of the OHS Student Government Association (SGA) election were revealed on the announcements September 16. Senior, Kaitlyn Dobbins, is the 2013 SGA president, junior, Braden Weber, is the vice president, sophomore, Robert Piscitelli, is the treasurer, and freshman, Hannah Ross, is the secretary. Elections took place Thursday and Friday online. The elections received a lot of attention due to the numerous signs candidates placed throughout the school.

Dobbins said that she “felt relieved” when she heard that she won “because I was tired of campaigning. However, I felt so honored and excited that the student body chose me to lead them throughout this school year… I'm going to bring Orange High the involved student body president it needs. I feel like school spirit is at an all-time low and, using my leadership and organization skills, I plan to lead the student government along with the entire school to unite in a campaign to revamp the school spirit at OHS.” When asked why she wanted to be president Dobbins replied, “I wanted to make a difference. I was unsure about it freshman year, but after going on four years, I am loving it even more. I love being able to collaborate with other students I wouldn't otherwise talk with, organizing events, and helping the student body to love their high school even more.”

Nycol Lyons, one of the candidates opposing Dobbins, said, “It was a competitive race but I congratulate Kaitlyn on her victory and I wish her the best in her presidency. I’m sure she’ll do a great job.” Lyons placed at least one hundred signs in the school, including approximately thirty to forty in the Panther’s Den. Emily Swink was the other opposing candidate.

Weber, the new vice president, said that winning was “exciting… I wasn’t really sure at first how the polls were going to play out.” When asked what he’ll bring to the vice presidency that other candidates could not, he replied, “Vice presidents haven’t really… done as much. I’m going to bring new ideas to the table that the other candidates couldn’t have brought.”

Robert Piscitelli, the SGA treasurer, said that he “will be able to bring the assurance that no money will be lost and all of it will be accounted for.” When he heard that he won, he felt “happy… because I know I can help the school.”

Hannah Ross, the SGA secretary, said she joined SGA “because I’ve done it in the past.” She was a member of the SGA at her previous school, Orange Charter School. As secretary, she will bring her “artistic ability… to help out with events and fundraisers.” She is “glad to see what’s in store for SGA.”

Justin Webb, the SGA advisor, decided to allow everyone to become a representative instead of only allowing candidates with the most votes to become representatives. “I don’t know [what we’ll do] in the future.” He thought the election “went very well” and that it was “nice this year to see the posters [and] banners. I feel like everyone tried really hard.” According to Webb, almost 500 students voted in this year’s election. He estimated that there were four times as many votes as there were last year.

There are 38 total SGA representatives. Six representatives are freshmen, nine are sophomores, 12 are juniors, and seven are seniors. Webb is “looking to boost freshmen numbers.”

Jay Huskins, a junior, was one of the students who voted. “I knew [voting] was important to the candidates.” He noticed the many campaign posters. “I don’t think they swayed my opinion, [but they annoyed me] a little bit.”