May 20, 2019
Poplar Bluff Student Council earns national Excellence Award
The Poplar Bluff Student Council continues to set the bar high as a group and will be riding the momentum of achieving a national award into next school year. Poplar Bluff students were awarded the National Association of Student Councils Gold Council of Excellence Award for continuing their efforts to improve the school and community through leadership and service...
The Poplar Bluff Student Council continues to set the bar high as a group and will be riding the momentum of achieving a national award into next school year.
Poplar Bluff students were awarded the National Association of Student Councils Gold Council of Excellence Award for continuing their efforts to improve the school and community through leadership and service.
“This award highlights the accomplishments of this year,” Student Council President Eva Bedell said. “Alongside with our district win, new members, increased fundraising and everything else we have done, as a whole package, this award highlights and summarizes the year.”
Realizing all the work the Student Council has accomplished this year, past Vice President Geneva Taylor took the time to fill out the application and submit artifacts that events had been completed along with confirmation from PBHS Principal Mike Owen.
Owen was proud to help Student Council confirm the work put in all year to qualify for the award.
Student Council works hard and well together and they deserve it, he said of the award.
Owen also added the council’s interest is for the whole student body and not just the club.
“Given all the work this council has accomplished since last summer, the members needed to be recognized with this award for their work,” Student Council Advisor Mitch Davis said.
The work Student Council does with Special Olympics played a big part in receiving the national honor, Davis said.
“They are looking for councils promoting equity and inclusion,” he said.
Each week, Davis’ Leadership Class comprised of Student Council members would team up with the adaptive physical education class as an opportunity for members to mentor students.
Civic engagement was also a requirement of the Gold Council of Excellence Award. Student Council partnered with the city of Poplar Bluff last fall to help organize the Prayer Breakfast.
Positive social change was shown through numerous school spirit weeks while empathetic actions and wellness were fulfilled through clothing, food and blood drives hosted by the council.
Since claiming this honor, Bedell said her hopes is future councils will continue to win the award as well.
The last time the Poplar Bluff won the Gold Council of Excellence Award was 2008, Davis said.
“We haven’t had a strong enough program to win it until now,” he added.
As a member of Student Council during high school and now as the advisor, Davis said he has never seen a team that works this well together to accomplish goals.
“I think credit needs to go where it’s deserved and that’s the leadership team,” he said. “Eva is a fantastic president and has a team of people who assist her.”
Heading into next school year, Student Council is looking to have as strong of a presence in the school, if not stronger.
Over 100 students have applied to be a part of Student Council next school year, which is a lot more than this past year at 85 members.
According to Bedell, a majority of the new member applications expressed interest in Student Council due to seeing all the work the group has done this past year and hosting events the student body enjoyed.
“I think we have a super strong group for next year,” Bedell said. “Not only do we have a lot, but they are dedicated and strong.”
During an ice cream social held a couple weeks ago to meet members, Bedell added the younger students exceeded her expectations.
“They came in and are very outgoing, very excited and very confident,” she said.
Incoming Vice President Ross Dare said the family system implemented this year will also serve as a strength for the council next year.
The family system is select groups inside the council created to help strengthen bonds between people.
Being in a large club of over 100 students can be overwhelming for some, so the family system serves as a tool for members to share ideas through smaller groups.
Once a quarter, Dare said, the family leaders plan and organize an event with their group to team build and bond. Some events have included swimming parties to going to the park and drawing with sidewalk chalk.
“This is probably one of the most beneficial systems we have in our council,” Bedell added.
Bedell also credited being able to pull a lot of juniors on the leadership team for the stronger presence coming next year.
“We got to work together as a leadership team for this past year, so now going into next year we are even stronger as a unit,” she said. “We know our goals and have plans for what we want to do.”
With work already underway to qualify the Poplar Bluff Student Council for the Gold Council of Excellence Award next year, Davis said he did not think another Southeast Missouri school had recently won the award.
The Poplar Bluff was one of 20 high schools in the state of Missouri to win the award.
“They set a standard of excellence and we want to continue to meet that,” Davis said.
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