A Larkin High School junior has been named as the new student representative on the Elgin School District U46 Board of Education.
During its last meeting, the school board voted unanimously to confirm Allison Holloway as the board rep for the 2015-2016 school year, with Streamwood High School junior Sarah Fannin as the alternate if Holloway is unable to serve. They had been nominated by the District U46 CEO Student Advisory Council.
Holloway will replace the 2014-2015 representative, Megha Bhattacharya of Elgin High School.
For six years, the school board members have appointed one high school student to sit alongside them and comment on any issues as a spokesperson for the student body, though he or she is unable officially to cast a vote on official business.
Each of the district’s high schools also appoint members to the CEO Student Advisory Council, which meets regularly with CEO Tony Sanders.
Three of the advisory council members — Daniel Strom from Larkin, Victor Vyleta of Larkin and Brendon Culloton of South Elgin High School — explained to the school board members their procedure for deciding to recommend Holloway and Fannin as the finalists. They said the principal at each of the six high schools, including Gifford Street Alternative High School, nominated two students as candidates. Each student sent the council an essay, a transcript and recommendations.
The advisory council reviewed those written applications, then interviewed six of the students in person before voting on who they would recommend.
“Our goal was to select students who could represent the views of all high school students, and who also had the inner drive to make a difference,” Vyleta said.
Strom said Holloway was the first person ever to be elected as president of the Larkin High Student Government while only a junior. She also has worked on Larkin’s annual Connie-A-Thon fundraiser for families stricken by medical expenses, was captain of the varsity tennis team, is third in her class academically, and is a member of the Safe School Ambassadors and the Philosophy Club.
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“She brings a unique blend of intellectual capacity, cross-cultural understanding and a strong moral compass,” Larkin Principal Jon Tuin wrote in a letter of recommendation for Holloway.
“… However, I am most impressed with her ability to connect and relate with people,” Tuin wrote.
Holloway said that as she has solicited donations to the Connie-A-Thon from businesses over the past three years, she has had “occasional run-ins with an upset owner.” She said such incidents “will benefit me at the school board meetings because I have experience with annoyed individuals and have been able to defuse these situations.”