Sweeping changes have been made to the Student Government Association (SGA) application process for the 2015-2016 election year.

In order to run for office a student must fill out a 14-page application packet including information about their educational and extracurricular background, current schedule and grade and absences for the school year. The packet also requires  students to report their prospective schedule for next year.

Students must also write a one-page description of why they are choosing to run for SGA or Class office. Lastly, they must collect 40 student signatures and recommendations from their current teachers supporting their decision to run. The application packet  must be turned in to the SGA in room B210 by Thursday, May 7.

Sophomore Grace Anlauf, who will be applying for junior class president, has responded to the changes made with a very positive attitude.

“I think the part of the packet where the person must get 40 signatures is very interesting. I honestly thought that was pretty fun,” Anlauf said. “The hardest wasn’t anything specific, it was just very time consuming. Other than that the toughest part is just writing the paper.”

The goal of the new process is to encourage students who want to make changes within the school to run for office.

As stated in the packet,“participation in student activities is a crucial part of the complete educational package offered at First Flight High School. Running for an elected office on the class or school-wide level demonstrates a student’s willingness to commit a large portion of their non-academic school life to that organization.”

After the packets are turned in, Co-Sponsors Karen Head and Adam Herman will review them with the help of an SGA committee and announce the candidates on Monday, May 11.

Election campaigning will begin on Monday, May 18. The candidates must adhere to a campaign budget and can only have a maximum of one banner, four posters, and 40 flyers in specified areas. These posters must be stamped with approval and cannot contain any insults or accusations toward another candidate.

The last requirement of the candidates will be to prepare a one minute speech which will be broadcasted on May 27 and 28 to the candidates’ class on the Nighthawk Report. There will be a school-wide viewing of the Student Council Association speeches on May 29 and the election results will be announced at 3:30 p.m. that day.

Head is eager to see the difference in the SGA  in the coming years as a result of these new changes.

“We have had hard-working officers throughout the history of FFHS,” Head said. “We would like the elections of all positions to be taken more seriously by students considering running for office and their commitment to that position to be their top priority.”

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