This spring, our very own Oakmont Student Council had the great responsibility of holding the CDMASC Spring Conference on April 16, uniting student councils from all over the region. With two conferences, one in the fall and one in the spring, these regional conferences are intended to bring student councils together to build connections, learn from each other, and develop the leadership skills necessary to thrive. A school from the region hosts each conference, and this spring, the conference came to Oakmont!
Our council was eager to take on the role of hosting the major event, with our conference chair, Oakmont senior Annika Salilla, leading the way. Many challenges came with hosting a conference, but she guided our council through it well! Student Council advisor and Oakmont science teacher Mr. Dufour said, “Oakmont’s StuCo is always proud of the efforts we put into our events, often above and beyond, and it shows when we can host an event of this scale with no problems or issues. As an advisor, it is a relief to have a council that can perform at the level that they do with their dedication and passion, not just to leadership, but to their own organization.” Our council did an excellent job of managing the complex event, emphasizing how our council is one of the best!
A key part of hosting a regional conference is choosing a theme to center the conference around. This heightens the excitement of the event and brings the conference together even more. Our council decided to plan the conference around the theme “CSI” with the catchphrase of “Solving the Secret to Success.” Therefore, the conference was focused on a mystery crime scene, and our council did an amazing job of making that theme shine through!
Another major part of the conference is that every spring, regional executive board elections take place. To make matters even more fun, our current Student Council Vice President and Oakmont junior, Ryan Rollo, decided to run to be the president of the board. To support him, our council worked hard helping with his “Willy Wonka” themed campaign at the beginning of the conference. Towards the end of the conference, the councils regrouped in the auditorium to receive the results of the election.
While Rollo did not get the role of President, he was chosen as a delegate, and our council is extremely proud! When asked about his campaigning experience, Rollo shared, “Campaigning for a position on the board was stressful but so much fun. Crowds of people constantly swarming me were a lot, but it allowed me to meet new people. Even though I didn’t win the position I ran for, I am still very excited to be on the board, as many didn’t have the opportunity.” Being a part of this campaign was an amazing learning experience for both Rollo and our council, and it made the conference even more exhilarating!
Also essential to the conference experience, students from each council prepare workshops to help enhance key leadership skills. These workshops are extremely energetic and beneficial, making them the best part of the conference for many. The time spent in workshops allows students to bond with each other and meet new people from other schools. This aspect of the conference encourages building connections with others while acquiring essential leadership knowledge. At this conference, workshops went smoothly, and everyone had an amazing time.
Overall, the conference was a success, and our council is extremely proud of all that they accomplished. Everyone was able to apply what they had been learning throughout their time on the council to create an exciting conference. The council’s secretary, Oakmont sophomore Jocelyn Cleaves, claims, “The CDMASC conference at Oakmont was a huge success! Our student council made many great connections with other councils as campaigning for the regional EBoard took place. Later, when we were sent to our leadership workshops, I was able to learn new skills and meet many great leaders from our region. Hosting and participating in this conference truly benefited me and our council as a whole!” This conference allowed members of the council to put their skills into action and immerse themselves fully in the Student Council experience.
Leading up to the conference and during the conference itself, our student council put in their best effort, and it paid off in the end. The council was able to unite as one to produce a high-quality event with minimal issues. Council President and Oakmont junior Rachel O’Neil reflected, “Overall, the event went very well, everyone worked well together and knew what they were supposed to be doing. I was very pleased with the council overall, and I don’t know what they could have changed to make things run any better because of how well it went.” Everyone was very pleased with how the conference turned out, and it shows just how amazing our student council is!
Since the conference is hosted by Oakmont once every several years, this was a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience for the council. Based on this conference’s success, it is sure to never be forgotten! Our council did an extraordinary job hosting this conference, further proving how lucky Oakmont is to have such a dedicated student council!
