New MLEC Leaders Speak on the Recent Election

By Edisleibys Cuesta

This past week at MLEC, energy was high as future leaders campaigned for the recent elections, which took place April 22 and 23 during students’ English class. From the class of 2026 to the class of 2028, students across all grade levels campaigned and posted flyers, bringing enthusiasm and school spirit to every classroom. Social media played a huge role in the campaign, as candidates posted their flyers and videos online. 

The Class of 2028

For the class of 2028, former Vice President Isabella Acietuno was elected as president, Brisa Baez as vice president, Esmaidys Valdes as secretary, and Nayeli Rivero as treasurer. 

“When I saw that I won, I felt pure joy. I knew it was the perfect opportunity to get more involved with the school. I’ve always loved helping out and developing friendships,” said Esmaidys, the new class of 2028 secretary.

Still, the newly elected officers faced fierce competition. Freshmen, like Ambrosio Rios-Tabares, spent time dedicating their campaign to their hobbies and goals. Ambrosio designed his flyers and posters to be karate-themed to introduce himself to his class. His devotion to the student body was clear throughout his campaign.

“I truly care about making our class better with each passing day. I chose karate because it teaches me skills that I need to be a leader, like discipline, respect, and honesty. I also picked it because I wanted to be unique from the other candidates,” said Ambrosio.

Despite not taking the win, students like Ambrosio are happy for the new officers and reflect on the experience with joy.

The Class of 2027

The class of 2027, with the largest pool of candidates, has Tristen Pierre as a new class president. Returning to her position as vice president is Amelie Diaz. Gwen Cobas took the spot for secretary, and lastly, Melissa Marquez was elected as treasurer.

“I am excited for my position as secretary. This will allow me to help make a difference and connect students with one another, fostering an environment where communication can thrive,” said Secretary Gwen Cobas.

The new officers have truly reflected on what their roles mean to them, vowing to use them to better the school as a whole. Many hope to make their classmates proud and improve their high school experience.

“Being treasurer means I get to help turn our class ideas into real activities and events. I’m excited to work hard and make it happen for all of us,” said Treasurer Melissa Marquez.

Having won out against other very talented students, their confidence fuels their school spirit. The officers plan to make the next school year one of the most memorable yet. Some officers elaborated on this feeling.

“I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity and won’t let my class down. I think next year, MLEC is gonna see what class of ‘27 is really capable of!” said Vice President Amelie Diaz.

The Class of 2026

The highly anticipated class of 2026 has returning officer Melanie Laverde as president, Lena Fucci as vice president, and Jonathan Romero as secretary.

As the class of 2026 approached their final year, the leadership race was on. Melanie Laverde and Gianna Michel were running for class president, and the race was tight. Melanie’s slogan was extremely powerful. With the “Mirror Mirror on the wall” campaign, she took the hearts of many, giving out candy bags in the shapes of apples, embodying Snow White.

“Running for president, I felt nervous about the outcome, whether all these days of campaigning would lead to a good result. I also felt a lot of pressure, since senior year is our last year, and if I win, I want to make it unique and full of memories. I chose the ‘Mirror, mirror…’ campaign because I really like Disney and wanted to do something related to it,” said Melanie.

 Lena Fucci also ran for the class of 2026, campaigning for the role of vice president. Lena’s campaign consisted of an“iCarly” show theme, in which she gave out candy bags with a cutout “iCarly” phone.

“Being a class officer feels surreal because I never planned to be a class officer. I chose iCarly because the iCarly and Victorious universe was a big part of my childhood and known by most of my class,” said Lena.

Currently, there is no elected candidate for treasurer due to a tie. A runoff election will be held on Friday, April 25th, and results for these candidates will be released at 1:00 pm.

Student Government Association

Last but not least, the officers for the Student Government Association (SGA) are Melissa Cuervo as president, Jarol Tineo as vice president, Cherish Nichols as secretary, and Samantha Aceituno as treasurer.

SGA is in charge of putting together school events, running them, and promoting them. They work hard throughout the year to establish a series of field trips, lunch activities, and put together projects that engage their school community. Notable SGA-managed events include pep rallies and class trips.

At the top of the pyramid, SGA also manages the class officers beneath them. They’ve organized mural competitions between classes and helped them stay organized and coherent throughout the years.

“As VP, I plan to create more ways for students to get involved, from events that build school spirit to better communication between students and leadership. I’m excited and ready to step up, not just to lead, but to listen and represent what matters to us. I want to make next year more connected, more fun, and more impactful for everyone!” said Vice President Jarol Tineo.