Jordan MacDougall, a student at Norwell District Secondary School, and Emileigh Sampson, a Guelph Collegiate and Vocational Institute student have been appointed by the Upper Grand District School Board to serve as student trustees for the 2011-12 school year.
The students were elected by their peers who represent high schools from across the district on the Upper Grand Student Senate. Their term of office begins on Aug. 30.
MacDougall, who is currently a student trustee on the board, was returned to her position. She is entering grade 12 in September. With her co-trustee, Alex Vander Vlugt, she provided monthly updates to the board on various activities and the work and discussions of the student senate.
MacDougall is participant in board meetings, commenting on issues of concern to secondary school students. An active member of the Ontario Student Trustees’ Association, she has attended conferences and workshops with student trustees from across Ontario.
Sampson will be a grade 11 student beginning in September. Active on her school’s choir, senate, and hallway naming committee, she also ran the school’s Live Free campaign this year. Inspired to be a student trustee due to the efforts of her predecessor, Alex Vander Vlugt, also a student at GCVI, Sampson believes the biggest issue facing secondary school students is not being heard.
“We are told we have a voice but don’t know how to utilize that voice into action,” she said.
The board extended congratulations also to Vander Vlugt, who will leave his current position as student trustee at the end of the school year. He was instrumental in working with the student senate to bring the issue of bullying to the attention not only of Upper Grand District School Board students, but across Ontario with the Speak Out Against Bullying campaign.
