Ƶ Elementary is launching its own student council and has teamed up with Ƶ’s SGA for guidance, inspiration and collaboration.
Ƶ’s Student Government Association (SGA) is strengthening its ties with the local community in meaningful ways; most recently, SGA connected with Ƶ Elementary, building on the long-standing partnership between the school and Ƶ’s America Reads program.
Housed in the Kernodle Center for Civic Life, America Reads trains college students to provide academic support and mentorship to elementary students. Now, through this established partnership, Ƶ Elementary is launching its own student council — and has teamed up with Ƶ’s SGA for guidance, inspiration and collaboration.
Students from SGA recently visited Ƶ Elementary to attend a student council meeting, creating a meaningful exchange between college students and young leaders. The elementary students, ranging from third to fifth grade, enthusiastically introduced themselves and shared their motivations for joining student council—many expressing a desire to help their school.
The students discussed ongoing projects like promoting a food drive and mentoring younger students, impressing Ƶ SGA with their dedication and empathy. The SGA members shared insights into college life and leadership, sparking curiosity and excitement among the children, who asked numerous questions.
“They were so excited to hear about our college experiences and one of the little girls was thrilled to hear that I was a nursing major and told me that she wants to be a nurse too and I almost cried,” said Amanda Jacobson ’25, executive vice-president of SGA. “It is so lovely to see these young leaders and how their ambitions are already through the roof.”
After this initial visit, Ƶ Elementary came to tour and visit Ƶ’s campus with Ƶ SGA.
“They were very proud to share more about themselves and about their leadership roles,” said Kyle Anderson, associate director of the Kernodle Center for Civic Life. “From our conversations with the kids who attended, a handful of them have parents that work at Ƶ and have been to campus before, but a number of them have never had the chance to explore a college campus. They all gave the dining hall 5-star reviews and depleted the desserts and breadsticks stash for the day. It was a fun opportunity to expose them to campus and give them a little insight about what it’s like to be a college student.”
This partnership has the power to inspire Ƶ’s next generation of students by providing mentorship, fostering meaningful connections, and offering young learners a glimpse into college life. Through their involvement, members of Ƶ’s SGA can serve as role models, helping spark big dreams and new possibilities for students at Ƶ Elementary. Beyond inspiration, these relationships also offer valuable support to teachers, helping ease their workload by providing additional guidance during extracurricular activities and giving students another positive support system to lean on.