The class of 2023 will be led by Ramyla Dahmer (12) as their senior class president this year. Dahmer has a passion for leadership and is working hard to fulfill her position’s demands. She has one main goal this year: to make things happen for her class.

“My slogan kind of represents all that I’m aiming towards: to make it happen,” Dahmer said. “I want to listen to ideas… I know in a lot of instances of student government … you listen to ideas and you sort of put up that facade that you’re present, but I don’t just want to be present, I want to activate and implement ideas that we have.”

Dahmer’s election speech was a defining moment for her campaign. It was her most influential chance to exhibit to the seniors how seriously she plans to take this role. So, to make her speech stand out from the other candidates, Dahmer requested that her audience stand for much of the speech. 

“I know a lot of speeches are mostly direct communication from the candidate to the audience, and I didn’t want that,” Dahmer said. “I wanted a mutual communication to just introduce the idea that I’ll be listening to them, and not only that but it’ll be a decision of us, rather than me.”

Dahmer aims to appeal to all students with different goals for the future during their last year of high school.

“I don’t think there should ever be a singular perspective or opinion about something,” Dahmer said. “I think it should be open to a lot of different perspectives, and I think that makes everything a lot more unified.”

Besides actively working on new, exciting plans for the senior class, Dahmer is a band member as the drumline captain this year. She also has participated in Girl Scouts for 13 years and is in Bridge Builders.

“I just want a lot of opportunities for us to bond as a class in this last year,” Dahmer said. “[T]hings that we can remember and keepsake for when we graduate.”

Thomas Riley (12) will be the senior class vice president for the 2022-2023 school year. He is working with senior class president Ramyla Dahmer (12) to cultivate an enjoyable atmosphere for the seniors. Despite initially having little interest in student government, he decided to run as a solo candidate after being inspired by Dahmer’s efforts.

“I witnessed what all [Dahmer] was doing for the seniors and I wanted to be a part of that,” Riley said. “However I could do it, I wanted to be a part of that.”

Riley and Dahmer are encouraged by one another to work hard and provide for the senior class. Riley’s main goal for the year is to be a voice for the seniors and allow them to have an input on the senior class agenda.

“I want this year to be heavily senior-oriented … if the seniors in my class want a smooth, calm year, they’re gonna get a smooth, calm year,” Riley said. “If they want a fun, chaotic year, they’re gonna get a fun, chaotic year.”

Riley describes himself as passionate and open-minded. He is a part of the Soccer Club, the National Honor Society and the track and field team. Riley also tutors elementary and middle school students through the Peer Power program and is involved with Memphis Challenge. His many experiences have prepared him to lead this senior class.

Luke Hatler (11) will take on the role of junior class president for the 2022-2023 school year. Hatler is determined to make the year valuable for each individual junior and to represent the voice of the class with his position. His immediate goals for the school year are to create a comfortable and inclusive environment where all students have a chance to be represented. 

“My main audience is people who I feel aren’t being represented by the student government right now,” Hatler said. “Everyone who’s not on the wealthier side, and on the upper parts of the class like [the students taking] six APs [Advanced Placement classes].”

A few ways Hatler hopes to yield his plans is by providing free and easily accessible menstrual products in women’s bathrooms across campus and urging students to join the student council for a chance to be fairly represented.

“The school has a lot of problems, and I have a lot of solutions in mind, and no one else seemed to have solutions,” Hatler said.

Hatler is a part of the orchestra, the debate team and the Model United Nations (UN) club at school. Outside of school, he involves himself in Bridge Builders and volunteer opportunities with politicians such as Steve Cohen and Bernie Sanders.

Max Laumann (11) is working with Luke Hatler (11)  this year as junior class vice president, despite initially running with a different candidate. However, like Hatler, Laumann is adamant about allowing more student representation and insight into student government. 

“[Hatler] has great ideas, and he will make the school a more inclusive place,” Laumann said. “I firmly believe that, especially now that I’m working with him, but I do think we had differences in our  [campaign] approach, maybe not our ideas.”

Laumann’s campaign was fairly aligned with Hatler’s because he also strives to be a more inclusive voice for the junior class. During his speech, he made sure to engage his audience.

“I definitely focused on my want to include more people in the decision making process and the activities we plan,” Laumann said. “I focused my speech more towards people who didn’t know either of the candidates and wanted to vote for somebody who wanted to get things done.”

Laumann is a member of the orchestra, the Soccer Club, the soccer team and Model United Nations (UN) as the junior representative at school. When he is not at school, he is active in the Shelby County Youth Council and the Youth Commissioners Council.

Danica Richmond (10) is taking on the responsibility of sophomore class president for the 2022-2023 school year. This position will give Richmond the opportunity to showcase her leadership skills and cultivate an excellent year for the sophomore class. Richmond is engaged in other roles of responsibility outside of school by teaching swim lessons as a lifeguard. Her motivation to run for class president were her peers and teachers.

“Other teachers and other students would tell me that I have really good leadership skills … this year would be a great year [for me] to build up my college resume and to get more involved with the school and show off my leadership skills,” Richmond said.

Richmond plans to build a community within her class and redeem this school year from last year, which she considers to have been lacking school spirit.

“We’re a different class, we’re a really excited dynamic, there’s a lot of different personalities, and we want to showcase them throughout our school, so we want to bring us all together and be able to do things together without anyone getting in trouble, and to also start us on another path to having a good high school experience,” Richmond said.

The role of the 2022-2023 sophomore class vice president is being fulfilled by Dontae Jordan (10). Jordan considers himself to have a very social personality and is willing to work with a variety of students in the sophomore class to expand future ideas and plans. Jordan emphasizes the importance of giving his class a chance to have fun.

“I love to have fun, so I want to encourage other people to have fun while also making it educational,” Jordan said.

Jordan is teaming with Danica Richmond (10), sophomore class president, to provide the sophomores with several fun activities and incentives this year as a way to connect their community.

“One thing I said in my speech was, ‘I want school to be some place you enjoy rather than not wanting to come,’” Jordan said.

The freshman class elected Henry Chipley (9) as their leader for the 2022-2023 school year. As freshman class president, Chipley hopes to plan activities and events to allow the freshman class to come together during their first year of high school. Chipley was motivated by family and friends to run for the position, and his determined campaign paid off.

“On the first day of school I was telling people to vote for me before they even knew what I was talking about,” Chipley said.

Chipley is already active within the school by running for cross country and being a member of ROTC.

“Back in elementary school I ran for president of student council, and I lost so I had to redeem myself,” Chipley said.

Garrett Chaudron (9) will serve as Henry Chipley’s (9) vice president for the freshman class. Like Chipley, Chaudron is enthusiastic and ambitious and is looking forward to uniting his class. He honors his title as a leader this year.

“We need leaders that will actually do something and not just have it for the status,” Chaudron said.

Chaudron is a member of band, cross country and track at the school. Outside of school, Chaudron is active in basketball.

Gallery • 4 Photos

CATHERINE KELLET//USED WITH PERMISSION

Luke Hatler (11) poses in front of a white board endorsing his campaign.