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Silencing the crowd, senior class presidential candidate Matthew Grainger begins his campaign speech in the gym on Wednesday, April 22.
Presidential Candidate: Matthew Grainger
Matthew Grainger (Courtesy/Matthew Grainger)
“My name is Matthew Grainger and I’m running to be your senior class president. I’m running because I have a plan and the experience to lead us into an amazing time next year.
This past year I had the pleasure of being the junior class president, where we had great success and I learned experience is everything, and integrity is most important. Last year I kept every promise I made. I lowered prom prices while still producing a great event. I especially learned there are times that you have to make choices that not only affect myself or the class, but the entire school. So that is why you need someone with experience and with a plan.
Next year I want to create a buyout event that senior can participate in while we still can generate up to $2000. This would put us in a strong point financially while still having a bunch of fun.
I plan to hear everyone’s voice and input. Over the past year prom was a great time but the senior class put zero input. I can make the promise that if I’m elected I will be making sure our class’s voice and opinions will be implemented to make our senior prom special.”
Presidential Candidate: Ben Resnick
Ben Resnick (Courtesy/Ben Resnick )
“I’m running for presidency because I know of what I can do with my team on this campus. What started as just a recommendation by some people ended up becoming me genuinely wanting to help our school and be apart of it on a deeper level.
My experience in team coordination as well my level of leadership makes me the perfect candidate for president. At Church at Viera, I worked as a volunteer coordinator to help raise funds for children all over the world, that kind of coordination and teamwork is the exact kind needed for a leader. Additionally, a huge role im stepping into next year is president of the first priority club, which guides, ministers, and forms connections with all students grades 7-12 across campus, demanding purposeful and thoughtful actions. That level of responsibility and leadership is exactly what a class president should exhibit.
Communication is key when it comes to getting work done. If everyone is focused on their own goal, then the ability to cooperate effectively goes away. As your class president, I would consistently listen and work with my fellow class officers to create a perfect senior year for my class. I also would talk with my classmates and friends about what they want in their year and how to make it better. I am so blessed to know so many of my classmates and being able to call them my friends. You can trust me as your class president to work with not just my other class officers to create great events for our senior class, but also all the people who make up that senior class.”
Vice Presidential Candidate: Daniel Mirell
Daniel Mirell (Courtsey/Daniel Mirell)
“I’m running for Vice President because I believe that Senior year is the most important year in a student’s High School career, and I believe that I am the candidate with the energy and the vision to make it the best year ever.
As your current class Vice President, I helped plan Prom and make it one of the best in West Shore history, all while lowering prices by $10 from last year. If reelected, I intend on bringing that same mindset into next year.
My biggest idea for next year is competitive fundraising. Students can get into teams and organize their own fundraisers to support the class, and the team that raises the most money will get a prize at the end of the year. This allows the class to raise significantly more money all while providing Seniors an opportunity to add impactful leadership experience to their resumes and college applications.
I plan on listening to my fellow classmates by being open to feedback and criticism. We wouldn’t have been as successful as Junior class officers if it weren’t for this. I have always been and will continue to be available for conversations with students about how we can make Senior year the best year ever.”
Vice Presidential Candidate: Sophie Ann Miles
Sophie Ann Miles (Daniella Fassman )
“I am running for Senior Class Vice President because I care about who represents our class and how our final year turns out. I realized that this role isn’t about power, it’s about making sure our class is heard and that our senior year is the best it can be. I want to help create a year that reflects what we want, not just one person’s ideas.
I am a strong listener and communicator, which allows me to understand different perspectives and represent them fairly. I’m also responsible and committed, as I follow through on what I say I’ll do. I’ve learned from observing past senior classes, which has given me insight into what works and what could be improved, and I’m ready to apply that. I also have had various leadership roles from Chemistry club and organizing an annual church event that over 100 4th and 5th graders attend.
I want to focus on events that people are actually excited about and that bring our class together. For example, a student vs. staff dodgeball game could be a fun way to raise money that will engage more than just the senior class. I have already talked to Mr. Clark and teachers about it and everyone seems on board with the idea. More importantly, I want to build a senior year that feels inclusive, where more people are involved and events live up to expectations.
I want to be someone people feel comfortable reaching out to, whether that’s through texting, talking in person, or sharing ideas in other ways. I’ll actively ask for input and make sure people feel heard. My goal is to amplify others’ ideas, not shut them down, and make decisions that reflect the class as a whole.”
Secretary Candidate: Emma Gonzalez-Mojica
Emma Gonzalez-Mojica (Courtesy/Emma Gonzalez-Mojica)
“I’m running for Senior Class Secretary because I want to play an active role in making our final year both organized and unforgettable. This position isn’t just about taking notes, it’s about making sure our class stays informed, heard, and connected. I’m really excited about the chance to be a voice for our grade while helping plan events that bring everyone together and leave us with lasting memories.
I believe I’m a strong candidate because I combine organization with real leadership experience. I’ve developed strong note-taking and time management skills through multiple AP and dual enrollment courses, and I take pride in being responsible and reliable. Beyond the classroom, I’ve served as the Social Media Ambassador for Letters for Rose for two years and as President of the Latin America Club for three years, where I’ve learned how to lead, collaborate, and follow through on ideas. I’ve also gained experience through internships and teamwork, and I enjoy brainstorming creative solutions. Being involved in theater has also helped me become more outgoing, which makes it easier for me to connect with different people and work well with others.
Looking ahead to senior year, I have a lot of ideas to make it both fun and meaningful. Of course, I’m excited to help organize traditions like Grad Bash and Senior Breakfast, but I also want to introduce new activities. For example, I’d love to host fundraisers like a “Hose a Senior” event where students can pay to soak their friends, continue favorites like “Pie an Officer,” and help launch a lip sync or Battle of the Bands at Spring Fling. I also want to create a four-year memory wall to showcase at Senior Breakfast and organize a small scavenger hunt at Grad Bash with a prize to make the experience even more interactive.
Most importantly, I want to make sure every student feels represented. I’ve been fortunate to connect with many different groups of people, and I want to use that to make myself approachable and open to everyone’s ideas. Whether it’s through conversations, feedback forms, or just being available, I plan to actively listen and make sure your voices are reflected in what we do. I’m adaptable, open-minded, and focused on setting realistic, achievable goals that truly benefit our class.”
Secretary Candidate: Madison Shi
Madison Shi (Daniella Fassman )
“My name is Madison Shi and I’m re-running for your senior class secretary. I initially chose this position because I thought, “How hard could note taking be?” But as I sat through our meetings, I realized that I truly enjoy being able to plan events that make our high school years memorable, and being able to communicate your questions and ideas has helped me feel connected to everyone.
Besides being your junior year secretary and planning “the best prom in 19 years” according to Mr. Webb, I was also your SGA treasurer last year where I was involved in planning homecoming and our first spring festival. I am also your HOSA co-president, which means I help organize the blood drives that you see on campus and fundraisers like our Crumbl cookie sale. I have lots of experience with planning events so I promise I know what to do to make our senior year unforgettable.
As your secretary, I want to make sure everyone feels informed and included during our senior year. I want to work closely with the other officers and have everything that we discuss in our meetings be shared with the class. Similar to our Instagram story asking for prom music suggestions, I aim to utilize more polls/forms so that everyone’s voice gets heard.
I plan on utilizing social media and google forms to give everyone a platform to share their ideas. I promise to make sure that your ideas do not go unnoticed and that I will bring your suggestions into our meetings. I am also super approachable, so feel free to come up to me in person :)”
Treasurer Candidate: David Amador
David Amador (Daniella Fassman)
“My name is David Amador and I am currently running to become your Senior Class treasurer. I’m running since I genuinely believe I’m the candidate who is best suited to enabling our class to have the best senior year possible.
You don’t just need to take my word for it, my track record from last year speaks for itself. We were able to fundraise successfully and substantially, allowing us to come into our senior year with more funds than the class before us. Also using the class of 2026 as reference, we were able to lower prom prices from their junior year, all the while delivering a much better experience. In my time as Junior Class treasurer, I was integrally involved with planning and carrying our fundraising efforts, so I have the necessary experience you deserve moving into our most important year of high school.
Next year, I plan to focus more on memorability during our fundraisers on top of our monetary interests, our pie a class officer fundraiser last year being a great example of what I’m aiming for. With only one year at Westshore left, we need to make the time we still have, so combining fundraising and senior memories into as many events as possible is one of my top priorities.
Of course, no one knows what the class of 2027 finds memorable more than you! I’m always open to lend an ear and listen to any questions, suggestions, or concerns about our fundraising and finances.”
Treasurer Candidate: Anita Mahindra
Anita Mahindra (Courtesy/Anita Mahindra)
“I’m running for treasurer. I feel that I’m responsible with money and have experience in organizing fundraising events.
I feel that I would make a good candidate because I have leadership in my School Advisory Committee where I can represent our grade to admin. I also started a nonprofit called Replay4Kids where I organize donation drives at schools. I have experience in leading events that students are willing to participate in.
I hope to make fundraising events more enjoyable for everyone, where we could connect as a grade while also fundraising money. I want to be as transparent as possible about where funds are going.
I hope to make sure everyone’s voices are heard by starting up conversations and checking in with others. I want to be an approachable person and stay connected with students’ interests.”
Historian Candidate: Eleanor Alderman
Eleanor Alderman (Courtesy/Eleanor Alderman )
“I’m running for senior class historian because I have a true interest in the role. I love advertising, photography, editing, and running social media accounts, so I feel I could help our class in creative and fun ways.
I have managed and advertised multiple social media accounts, I have experience in photography and sports photography so I know how to capture important moments, I also have experience in photo and video editing to make things like posters, collages, and the graduation video.
Next year, I plan to bring a creative and energetic vibe to office. I consider myself an outgoing and creative person, so with unique fundraising ideas and advertising, I think I can help raise money. I also plan on using social media as a tool to communicate with the study body so they are more informed of deadlines and events. I further will do senior spotlights to showcase all of the amazing things our seniors have accomplished.
I plan on representing the ideas of my classmates by using polls, google forms, and Q&As. I hope to make sure everyone’s voices are heard because that is such an important role in making sure everyone has the best senior year.”
Historian Candidate: Lauren Bender
Lauren Bender (Courtesy/ Lauren Bender )
“I am running for senior class historian! I decided to run for this role because I wanted our class to be unified for our senior year. Throughout my time at West Shore I have always felt division in our class specifically, but I wanted to fix that. West Shore is a tiny school which makes senior events like senior breakfast, senior sunrise, and grad bash so much more personal and important. As historian, communication is your main job. Clear communication can ensure that everyone is included in all of these fun senior year events.
A historians main source of communication is through the Instagram page. I have managed Instagram pages in the past for different sports teams as well as my own personal accounts. I also have experience in editing and design from journalism and yearbook classes. Aside from that, I feel like in many ways I represent most West Shore students. I am involved in two clubs at West Shore, National and Spanish Honor Society, take AP and dual enrollment classes, participate in high school and club sports, and have a job. I understand what it is like to be busy and how quickly you can get burnt out. Through clear communication, my goal is to minimize the stress of senior year as much as possible and focus on the fun that senior year has to offer.
My plan next year is to fully represent and include everyone while capturing the memories of senior year. To do this, you much first ensure the communication is clear and effective. I plan on doing this through consistent posts and themes on the Instagram so important information does not get hidden and lost. I also want include other important information on the Instagram from clubs, theatre, band, and sports team so everyone can be represented and supported. Secondly, at these senior year events I want to fully capture every important moment. By making videos of important events, like senior breakfast, people can look back upon memories of their senior year later on in the future. I also want to make sure the end of year slide shows fully capture every demographic of student at West Shore, not just focusing on specific students, ensuring that everyone has a memorable senior year.
I plan on listening to the opinions of my classmates through clear communication whether it be through in person conversations, senior group chats, or even polls on the social media. Social media cannot be the sole source of communication as some students do not have social media. That’s why I want to make sure that there are group chats that actually include every student in our class so no one is excluded. Additionally in person communication is essential to building real connections to classmates, so that the needs of our class can be fully presented to the class officers.”
Historian Candidate: Paulette Pozo
Paulette Pozo (Courtesy/Paulette Pozo)
“I am running for Senior Class Historian because I genuinely care about capturing and preserving our class’s memories. After serving as junior class historian, I’ve seen how much work goes into the role and how important it is. I want to continue building on what I started and make sure our senior year is fully documented so everyone has something to look back on.
Next year I will have four years of experience in the journalism program, including three years in yearbook and next year serving as editor-in-chief. I also have strong skills in photography, video editing, and graphic design. This year, I designed most of our fundraising posters, managed social media, and created videos like Powderpuff edits, which each took several hours to produce. I also consistently attended events to capture photos and videos. My experience and dedication allow me to produce high-quality content while staying organized and capturing these special moments for us.
Next year, I want to expand what we’ve already started. I plan to make a shared photo drive public from the beginning of the year and update it consistently so students can access pictures in real time. I also want to bring back and improve “Senior Spotlights” to highlight more students. In addition, I plan to attend and document more events that don’t usually get coverage, like senior breakfast, awards, concerts, and senior nights across all activities. I also want to increase promotion for fundraisers to help our class raise more money.
I plan to stay open and approachable by encouraging people to share ideas through social media, direct messages, and in person. I also pay attention to what content people engage with and what feedback they give, so I can adjust and improve. My goal is to represent everyone by making sure a wide variety of events, activities, and students are included and recognized.”
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