Be An Informed Voter!

Get to know the candidates running for High School Executive Council before you cast your vote! Dive into their responses to key questions to learn about their accomplishments, character, and vision for our school. Click on their resume hyperlinks to explore their qualifications and make an informed choice for our future leaders.

Who makes up the elected Executive Council members?

The Executive Council represents the entire student body of Carmel Christian High School, unlike the Class Representatives who represent his or her individual grade. To be eligible, a student must have served as a high school class representative for at least one year. Executive positions include President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer, and Chaplain. We asked several questions of our candidates to give them a chance to share their heart and approach to leadership. Let’s take a look at their answers.

Student Body President Candidates (only a Senior may be elected as President)

Cate Hilton (r. Senior)

James Coleman (r. Senior)

Please describe your work in Student Government this year and in past years.

• (Cate Hilton) I have had the opportunity to serve as a member of Student Government for three years. Planning dances has been one aspect of Student Government that I have found incredible, as it provides the opportunity to work alongside a team as well as create an event to bring the entire student body together. This year, planning and orchestrating Prom was particularly special, as it is a large event. One of the projects that was the most meaningful to me was writing letters for the rising freshman at the beginning of this school year. Upon entering my freshman year, I received a handwritten letter from the Chaplain, and it served as an immense encouragement. Freshman year is overwhelming, but it is important for the Freshmen to feel recognized by the Upperclassmen and understand that there is always someone they can turn to.
• (James Coleman) I joined SGA this year and the best project that I was able to work on was Junior and Senior prom. I loved being able to work behind the scenes and getting to play a part in some big decisions that helped make prom the great event that it was. It was awesome having that responsibility and working with the Junior team in order to make our visions a reality.

  

What is your leadership style?

• (Hilton) I often lead through working alongside a team where we can create and execute plans together. I hope to foster a sense of community and belonging within the High School. Also, I hope that I can serve as an advocate for the Student Body. 
• (Coleman) My style of leadership is bouncing ideas off of other people and guiding groups in directions that I believe will benefit everyone as much as possible. I hope to effectively incorporate the desires of my peers when it comes to planning events on the executive council. I learned this year on SGA that it really takes a definitive voice to take the collective ideas presented by a group and work them into one uniform plan, and I hope to contribute that type of leadership and direction.

What would be one new initiative that you would like to discuss and implement for next year?

• (Hilton) I would like to discuss opportunities for High School to increase its involvement with Elementary and Middle School students. I believe that Carmel has a special opportunity for older students to partner alongside those who are still growing. Also, my hope is to implement a High School service chapel where students have the opportunity to show the love of Christ outside the school. 
• (Coleman) I would like to discuss the possibility of surprises and events for the high school that would make student and faculty time at Carmel more entertaining. I don’t want SGA to feel like something that is separate from the student body but rather something that is integrated and intimately involved in their opinions, concerns, and ideas. I think incorporating the highschool in more events and unique activities will help to bridge that gap and make SGA far more approachable.

Share a favorite movie or movie genre and why you enjoy it so much.

• (Hilton) I enjoy rom-coms because they are the perfect balance of everything you could wish for in a movie!
• (Coleman)I love Christopher Nolan movies; they are all so unique and cover crazy interesting concepts with awesome cinematography and music 🙂

What is your favorite part of the student experience here at Carmel?

• (Hilton) My favorite aspect of the student experience at Carmel is the ability to create strong friendships with like-minded individuals. 
• (Coleman) I love the sense of unity. Everyone knows one another and there isn’t really much division or conflict between students. It’s been great getting to know not just a specific group of people, but the majority of the students in the high school a lot more over the past few years.

Do you have a life verse or favorite Scripture, and what does it mean to you?

• (Hilton) My favorite Scripture is Psalm 100:5, which states, “For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” This is a constant reminder to me of God’s steadfastness amidst chaos. The Lord is the foundation of my life and in him I find my strength daily. 
• (Coleman) I would say that one of my favorite verses is Philippians 4:6-7. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” This verse has been such a good reminder to go to God with my anxiety and worry and to trust Him. He is for us, and in Him we have every reason to be confident, not afraid.

Click on the following links for Cate Hilton and James Coleman’s resumes.

Student Body VICE Presidential Candidates

Anna Jernigan (r. Senior)

Brennan Moore (r. Junior)

Cameron Lyerly (r. Junior)

Please describe your work in Student Government this year and in past years.

• (Anna Jernigan) In this past year, I served as the student body vice president and have worked with the executive council to prepare for events and facilitate the student body’s activities throughout the year. I have worked with Dr. Fryer to help discuss the important topics of interest for high school students and improvements that can be made in areas such as chapel and crew. It has meant so much to me to work with my peers to create events they will love such as homecoming and prom, as well as speak out for their best interests. My favorite event that I have served to plan and complete is the 2025 prom. I loved working with my class SGA and challenging myself to do what is difficult to make a great product for my peers. The encouragement we shared and the excitement of the final project helped me learn important lessons and be proud of what we accomplished. 
• (Brennan Moore) Even though this is my first year in SGA, I have done a lot to plan events as well as support others who plan them. This year, our big project was Sadie’s. My fellow representatives and I worked really hard and put a lot of time into this dance so that everyone could have a good time. That was probably my favorite event because I was able to make a lot of decisions to create a memorable experience for the guests.

  

• (Cameron Lyerly) I have been a dedicated member of the Student Government Association for two years, and I am honored to currently serve as the Sophomore Class President. During my time in SGA, I have actively contributed to organizing and coordinating various school events, including setting up and breaking down school dances and helping lead a range of student activities. One of the highlights of my involvement has been planning this year’s Sadie Hawkins dance. It was incredibly rewarding to know that I was creating a fun and memorable experience for my classmates, and I was proud of how the venue turned out after all of our hard work.

  

What is your leadership style?

• (Jernigan) My leadership style is more based on working with others than working by myself. I love to support other people while we work towards a common goal. I like to take direction and to help delegate responsibility. I hope to contribute to a presence on the executive council where people feel supported to succeed. I hope to represent the student body well and everything that we experience. I hope to be given the opportunity to work hard and be a leader ultimately for the Lord’s purpose. 
• (Moore) My leadership style is definitely servant leadership. No matter what position I am in, I like to be involved with the events that happen in the community. I will do anything I can to serve others and make their experience better, whether it be an event or a normal day at school. However, I am not afraid to step up and take the lead, and will still consider everyone in the community when contributing to a decision. 
• (Lyerly) As a leader I value the input of others and I work my best to create inclusive decisions so we can work together to reach a common goal. I also lead by example—being present, dependable, and willing to take on the hard work needed to make things happen. As a vice president and member of the executive council, I hope to contribute by creating events that are inclusive and enjoyable for everyone, improving communication between the council and the student body, and helping to foster a stronger sense of school spirit and community. . 

What would be one new initiative that you would like to discuss and implement for next year?

• (Jernigan) I would like to discuss the initiative of student prayer in chapel. This is a small thing that has been on my heart this year, and I think it would be a wonderful way to encourage the expression of different people’s spiritual gifts. The students on ignite band are gifted in worship, but there are other students who are especially gifted in corporate prayer. I would love to encourage that by hearing from more students by means of prayer at the beginning and/or end of chapel. 
• (Moore) I think something that we can initiate in SGA next year would be weekly emails. These would include important things to talk about during crew, or just things that may need to get done. This would help us to improve our communication within SGA, making sure everything runs smoothly and efficiently. We could also apply this to the whole high school. The email could contain the crew schedule for that week, indicating any assemblies, and the sports calendar to boost school spirit. 
• (Lyerly) One initiative I would like to implement as part of SGA next year is the creation of a clear and public year-long timeline for major events and activities. This year, there were several scheduling issues and confusion around dates, which led to missed opportunities—such as not being able to host the Powderpuff game due to conflicts with sports schedules. By planning ahead and sharing a detailed calendar with the student body early in the year, we can avoid these conflicts, increase participation, and ensure that important traditions and events are preserved.

Share a favorite movie or movie genre and why you enjoy it so much.

• (Jernigan) My favorite movie is probably Little Women because of the dynamics of the direction, and beauty of its presentation, and the connection I have to the story. It is brilliantly done as well as vulnerably presented. It is a beautiful movie and an even more beautiful timeless story of the illumination of domestic struggles from voices rarely publicized at the time the story was originally written. The book is my favorite I have ever read. 
• (Moore)I enjoy action movies. Some of my favorites come from the Mission Impossible series. I love this genre because it gets your adrenaline going (but not too much). Also I enjoy watching the incredible stunts and special effects that are included.
• (Lyerly) My favorite movie is The Hunger Games because it is just such a cool story about how a girl fought for her survival and was able to make it in a Dystopian society.

What is your favorite part of the student experience here at Carmel?

• (Jernigan) My favorite aspect of the student experience at Carmel is the relationship I have with my peers. There is a definite community in especially the junior class that inspires me to treat others well and represent Christ in all that I do. Even when I fall short, I know that I have a community around me that cares for me and holds me to a standard of leadership and Christ-like living. That is a blessing and a gift that I do not take for granted. We are able to enjoy one another in events as well as the difficult aspects of school. I am proud to be a part of it. 
• (Moore) Simply put, I enjoy the community. I like that I know everyone in my grade and can say hi as I pass them in the hall. While we may have our own friend groups, I think we do a fantastic job at still being connected throughout each grade and the high school as a whole. 
• (Lyerly) My favorite aspect of the student experience at Carmel is the ability to create strong friendships with like-minded individuals. 

Do you have a life verse or favorite Scripture, and what does it mean to you?

• (Jernigan) Psalm 113:3 is one of my favorite Scripture verses. It says, “From the rising of the sun to its setting, let the name of the LORD be praised.” This verse has been a beautiful reminder of the mercies that are new every morning from the Lord. With every passing day His name is to be praised, and every day my simplest and most precious job is to have that praise come from me. 
• (Moore) My life verse is probably John 13:34-35. It says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I love this verse because it is really important that we love everyone. It’s not just important for no reason, but because God loves us, we are to do the same. Beyond that, when we love others, we are showing God’s love to them, so that they may see Christ in us and be led to him too. 
• (Lyerly) “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” – Philippians 4:13. This verse has always been a source of encouragement for me during difficult times. It reminds me to stay strong and trust that with faith, I can overcome any issue I have.

Click on the following link for Anna Jernigan, Brennan Moore, and Cameron Lyerly’s resumes.

Student Body Secretary/Treasurer Candidates

Audrey BonDurant (r. Junior)

Megan Brown (r. Senior)

Please describe your work in Student Government this year and in past years.

• (Audrey BonDurant, Junior) I helped plan lipsync for my grade. I helped decorate the halls this year for SGA. I also helped plan Sadies which was really fun. All these events meant a lot to me to plan because it helped my grade and other grades to make fun memories. My favorite event was lipsync because we were able to be creative. 
• (Megan Brown, Senior) I have served in student government since sophomore year and have worked on all kinds of projects such as Sadies, Prom, and designing the Junior class sweatshirts. One major event that meant a lot to me was planning prom this year. It was my favorite because I was able to see all of the details come together to create a beautiful event.

What is your leadership style?

• (BonDurant) My leadership style is to put in the work but also listen to other peoples opinions. Doing this has made Lip-sync and Sadie’s better because other people’s ideas were creative and I didn’t really think about some of the things people suggested. I hope to contribute to making school more fun and  doing the work so other people can enjoy different events. 
• (Brown) I am a servant leader that enjoys collaborating and leading by example. I hope to bring my experience from previous years to come up with new and exciting ideas.

  

What would be one new initiative that you would like to discuss and implement for next year?

• (BonDurant) I would like to implement  more time to go outside and do things if that is at all possible. 
• (Brown) I would love to implement suggestions throughout the year on what to add to the snack cart, so it caters to people’s wants throughout the year.

Share a favorite movie or movie genre and why you enjoy it so much.

• (BonDurant) I love all Marvel movies because they are entertaining and funny. 
• (Brown) My favorite movie genre is action because it is fast pace and exciting.

What is your favorite part of the student experience here at Carmel?

• (BonDurant) I love how Carmel incorporates God in all our classes and that we have the freedom to talk about Jesus. 
• (Brown) I love the community at Carmel because it is small enough for everyone to be connected and active in one another’s lives. 

Do you have a life verse or favorite Scripture, and what does it mean to you?

• (BonDurant) I love Isaiah 41:10 Which says, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” This is a meaningful verse to me because I tend to worry about life a lot and this verse shows me I do not need to be afraid because God is with me.
• (Brown) One of my favorite verses is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” For me this verse shows me that I do not need to be anxious about my future because God always has a plan. Also, that even in hard times everything is working to further the kingdom of God.

Click on the link for Audrey BonDurant and Megan Brown’s resumes.

Student Body Chaplain –

Will Irvin (Junior) is running unopposed. Find out more about Will below!

Please describe your work in Student Government this year and in past years.

• In Freshman year I helped with a lot of the hands-on work of setting up and taking down various events such as Fall Function, Homecoming, and Sadie’s. Along with this I helped lead Lip Sync this year and last year. This year I worked with my class SGA to put on the Sadies dance. I have also helped with many of the other events in other ways. My favorite event was Sadies because I got to do so much in the planning process and it felt very good to put on a successful dance.

What is your leadership style?

• My leadership style is to be a servant leader who learns what the student body feels and what they want. My goal is to do my best to cater to the likes of the student body while serving my peers as the hands and feet of Christ.

What would be one new initiative that you would like to discuss and implement for next year?

• I am going to work to find ways that Christ can be implemented into our High School so that we can grow closer together as a student body in Christ.

Share a favorite movie or movie genre and why you enjoy it so much.

• I enjoy watching Christopher Nolan movies because they have so much depth and crazy twists in them.

What is your favorite part of the student experience here at Carmel?

• My favorite aspect of Carmel is that we have teachers who love us with the love of Christ every day.

Do you have a life verse or favorite Scripture, and what does it mean to you?

• John 16:33 reads, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” I love this verse because it is a great reminder that no matter if I am in the highest of highs or the lowest of lows, Jesus has overcome it all and I have no reason to fear.

Click the link to see Will Irvin’s resume.