From pep rallies to blood drives to much more, the student council stays extremely busy throughout the year. High school principal, Brian Brantley, said the group does more than sponsor activities.

“Student council is important because it helps build leadership qualities and requires teamwork. Also, it forces members to step out of their comfort zone.”

—  Brian Brantley                 High School Principal

Every Tuesday the members have a working lunch where they discuss long agendas.

On any given week, student council directs multiple activities such as working at the local Food Bank sponsored by the Marlow Samaritans.

Every Wednesday two students sack food and help load it into cars at the Samaritan’s headquarters on Main Street.

Other service projects include donating a dollar every month to help raise money for their sponsored Ethiopia child and performing Random Acts of Kindness.

Student council member Hanna Forsythe said they are always willing to help someone in need.

“If someone in our town requires help, we are there to aid whomever with whatever it is they need,” Forsythe said.

Currently, student council is planning the pep rallies for the year and a homecoming dance.

Earlier this year, the organization hosted a blood drive and worked the United Way Follies dinner.

Student council adviser, Ann Field, said ideas for activities are planned during a leadership retreat in the summer.

“During the summer we have a two-day leadership retreat where we plan and work on our activities for the year,” Field said. “We also send students to Basic and Advanced, which are week-long summer leadership workshops put on by the OASC, Oklahoma Association of Student Councils, since before I became adviser.”

Field said the workshops are life-changing to those who attend as they put in 18-hour days of training in what it really means to be an effective leader.

Attending the National Student Council Convention, three to four students join other Oklahoma representatives for further leadership development.

Upcoming events include the haunted house, the Veteran’s Day assembly and the canned food drive.

Haley Anderson

Outlaw exPRESSions writer