MONTAGUE – Among the many benefits of serving as Montague Student Senate president, it’s helped Delaney Schultz to keep her ducks in a row.
“In terms of academically, I’m a much more organized person now because in Student Senate you kind of have to be. I strive to just stay on top of things,” said Schultz, a senior who carries a 4.1 weighted GPA and 3.9 unweighted.
“It’s nice being with people of every different grade level and just, like, not being limited to just my class but being able to meet people from different ones as well.”
Student Senate advisor Amy Hulka, who served in that capacity at Zeeland Public Schools before coming to Montague, lists the following goals of the group:
- Ensuring equality for every Montague High School student.
- Providing complete representation.
- Developing leadership, character, and service through activities.
- Encouraging service before self and character before corruption.
“I enjoy working with the students on making school a better place for all. It teaches them accountability, involvement, leadership, serving others, and lets them have a voice in a different way,” said Hulka, who is in her third year at Montague and teaches Algebra 2, Personal Finance, and AP Computer Science.
Joining Schultz as officers on the 2023-24 Montague Student Senate are Aurelia Ambriz as vice president, Bucky Aney as secretary, Ava Pelton as treasurer, and Rylee Onstott as reporter.
A term for those involved in Montague Student Senate lasts one academic year. Near the end of each school year, the school asks students and teachers to sign a petition for those running for positions. As a school, everybody votes for class and leadership roles.
Hulka hopes those serving on Student Senate learn how to collaborate as well as responsibility and accountability. At the same time, the advisor hopes that those serving have fun in giving back and making Montague High School a better place.
“Mostly, a lot of it is just raising school spirit and getting people involved in spirit weeks and wanting to be at school, and also we’re big role models in the school,” said Aney, who is a junior. “Mrs. Hulka presses that every meeting to be following the dress code, don’t be vaping in the bathroom, that kind of thing.
“It definitely makes it more enjoyable to be there (at school), being able to take more pride in the events that go on.”
Planning, organizing, and hosting homecoming festivities, including the dance, is a highlight for Montague Student Senate each year.
Planning begins during the summer in selecting a theme and picking spirit days. Students plan the spirit week and an all-school assembly where elementary and middle-school students come to the high school to enjoy games, dress up the principal and class advisors, meet athletes, and show their school spirit.
Hulka takes on a lot of behind-the-scenes responsibilities in regard to voting of the court, organization of the event, and ordering everything. In the end, though, she says it’s worth it.
“It has been successful in my opinion,” she said. “The goal is to get students involved and plan a fun week for them. I do enjoy homecoming and all the festivities and am able to relax after the court is introduced at halftime of the football game. Then I feel like the dance is the easy part.”
Hulka said that as Student Senate president, Schultz is very driven and organized and that she’s done a great job communicating and leading the group.
The respect is mutual between Schultz and Hulka.
Photos courtesy of Montague Student Senate
“We could not do it without her,” Schultz said about Hulka. “Every little thing that we don’t think of, she’s doing it and it’s already done. I don’t think anyone realizes how much work she’s put into it.”
Beyond attending meetings and planning homecoming, those affiliated with Montague Student Senate help run other assemblies, volunteer at the blood drive, and take part in planning and running other events, dances, and so forth.
Montague junior Rylee Onstott is the reporter for Student Senate and is responsible for getting news in the school announcements. Overall, the experience has been very positive and enjoyable for him.
“I hope to have a great impact on the future reporters and the whole group itself,” he said. “The highlights have been our blood drive and me passing out after giving blood. I have learned to put what’s important first and everyone’s opinion matters.”
Beyond the officers, Montague Student Senate relies on contributions of student representatives.
According to Hulka, the entire Student Senate group is a mix of different types of people: Some who want to be involved in everything and others who might need some encourage to help out. With the varying personalities and perspectives, it makes for a strong team that works together well to mesh strengths and talents of the group.
Montague juniors Maizie Collins and Aidan Kutches are among the student representative group. Both of them are very active in the school in other ways, be it in sports, band, and other activities.
“I love getting involved and making MHS a more fun and positive environment,” Collins said. “My goal is to hopefully have fun assemblies and create a positive environment here at school. I would also like to raise more money for the Student Senate so that we are able to do more for our school. While being in this group, I have learned leadership, responsibility, and kindness. We make it a goal of ours to hold our school accountable and improve every day.”
For Kutches, the highlight of being involved in Student Senate is helping to plan the homecoming dance, but it goes beyond that for him.
“I love setting up and planning, as well as the festivities that come with (homecoming,” Kutches said. “Student Senate has taught me many important skills, including public speaking, organization, planning, responsibility, being a leader, and standing up for your beliefs. It has been a great experience that has helped me become the person I am today.”
