Desert Wind student council takes home state Honor Award

Desert Wind Middle School’s student council was designated an ‘Honor Council’ at this month’s Arizona Association of Junior High Student Councils 44th state convention.

The annual convention, held at the Fort McDowell Resort and Convention Center this year on May 6, brings together state middle school and junior high school student council members to share activity and fundraising ideas, hear a guest speaker (Patrick Maurer) and socialize at a dance.

Each of the various councils is eligible to compete for points on written reports that detail their fundraising, school and community involvement, as well as school spirit projects. They are also required to submit a digital presentation, a scrapbook, their minutes and a banner.

Desert Wind’s council received blue ribbons on all their reports, which were graded on a 100-point scale. They received 28 out of a possible 32 points to win the Honor Council award, the highest honor possible for a first year council.

Student council president Eli Reynolds told the MUSD governing board at their May 12 meeting that this award “was the best we could do for our first year.” He also showed board members the handcrafted ‘tiger’ banner the group took to the convention. “Lots of schools had professional flags, but this one represents us,” he said, adding “We have the best school in town.”

Lindsey Kerber, a seventh grade math teacher, is the student council advisor at Desert Wind. “Students enjoyed everything the convention had to offer, including fine dining, a motivational speaker and an opportunity to network with other middle schools from around the state,” said Kerber.
 
Next year Desert Wind’s council anticipates being back at state, knowing exactly what it takes to keep winning awards.

Photo:  (left to right) student body secretary Victor Gonzalez, student body treasurer Chelsea Trejo, representative Shannon Stone, student body public relations representative Mary Morton (back row) Bryce Crosbie, eighth grade vice president, and (front) student body president Eli Reynolds with the Honor Award plaque.

Photo:  Eli Reynolds displays the Honor Award at the governing board meeting while advisor Lindsey Kerner and Desert Wind Principal Joe Veres hold the ‘tiger’ banner.

Photos by Joyce Hollis