Following a competitive election that drew eight candidates with a wide range of ideas and priorities, students voted for the student representative who will serve as their voice in the 2026-27 school year. When voting closed on March 20, no single candidate secured a majority, leading to a runoff election between candidates Lara Friedman and Olin Wilson-Thomas.
Students voted through myETHS, selecting their preferred candidate and confirming their choice. The process remained consistent across both rounds of voting, with the only difference being the number of candidates on the ballot.
To stand out in a crowded race, candidates relied heavily on posters, social media and school-wide campaign videos to share their platforms. Proposed initiatives ranged from physical education makeup reform and improved bathroom conditions to updated vending machine options and increased awareness of student clubs and activities.
“I used data collected in Student Union from the annual Student Voice forum,” said Friedman. “My platform was built around student feedback from earlier this year, focusing on issues that were reachable, within budget and would get attention from my peers.”
Friedman’s platform focused on improving nutritional options, increasing medical forgiveness within the Physical & Wellness Education Department and addressing hygiene concerns in school bathrooms. She emphasized centering district decisions around student voices.
While each candidate approached the race differently, many were driven by two shared goals: representing their peers and creating meaningful realistic change within the school. Some were motivated by specific policy, while others brought prior leadership experiences and a strong connection to the student body.
The role of Student Representative carries significant responsibility. The representative attends monthly board meetings to report on student experiences, leads Student Union meetings on Thursdays and advocates for student perspectives in shaping school policies.
“I think student representatives are a good way for students to have a say in the policies that affect them, while also gaining an educational experience of how democracy works,” said sophomore Brooke Bowman.
The results of the runoff election were announced on Olin Wilson-Thomas’ official campaign Instagram account, where he shared news of his win. For students, the announcement of the representative is encouraging.
“I am really excited for this coming year to hopefully see some physical improvements around the school, and I have a feeling Olin will give 100% to making the changes he proposed,” said sophomore Kate McQuade.Now that the election is over, attention shifts from campaigning to what changes will actually take place.
“I voted for the candidate who I thought had realistic, achievable goals,” said sophomore Susan Zeller. “I wanted a candidate who was thoughtful with their branding and policies and created something with students in mind that showed what kind of student representative they would be.”
The student representative uses the comments and concerns brought to them from the student body to push for change. Participating in student organizations is another outlet for continued involvement in school improvement efforts.
“Being rep is not the only way to make change at ETHS,” said Friedman. “Being in Student Union has given me so many opportunities to make ETHS a better place, and I encourage anyone looking to make a difference to stop by one of our meetings.”
As Wilson-Thomas prepares to step into the role, the election highlights the importance of student voices and the opportunities for students to shape their school community.
