The P20 Council proudly marks the successful completion of its latest Student Representative Cohort, a yearlong initiative designed to deepen student engagement and build programmatic continuity. This iteration extended across the full academic year, allowing participants to develop more sustained connections and insights than in previous cohorts.
Charlie Bender, Kyla Christensen, Citlally Diaz-Mar, Jemma Richards, Selah Simpson, Shawn Ware, Matthew Lupo, Erin Mitchell, Greysen Motley, Aiden O’Donnell
The cohort began with an ambitious data-gathering project. Each student representative conducted structured interviews with five peers, posing a series of 18 questions while also responding to 11 reflective prompts of their own. This initiative yielded over 100 unique data points per student, providing a rich foundation of qualitative and quantitative insights.
However, midway through the semester, Hurricane Helene brought unforeseen disruption. The storm’s impact reverberated deeply through the student community, shifting not only school operations but the emotional tone and substance of the interviews themselves. In response, program staff adapted the second major assignment. Originally intended as a presentation at a P20 Action Team meeting, the task was revised to feature virtual interviews with Katlen Smith, P20’s Administrative Support Specialist. The resulting video captured the resilience and emotional depth of the student experience during this challenging time.
Following the winter break, the students regrouped for their next assignment, synthesizing their fall findings into a concise, three-slide presentation. These summaries were structured around three guiding reflection questions:
- What was the most surprising thing you learned from interviewing your peers?
- What is the most important message the P20 Council needs to hear based on your research?
- What was the most valuable thing you learned from being a Student Representative in Fall 2024?
In April, each student presented their findings at a P20 Action Team meeting. Recordings of these presentations are available on the P20 YouTube channel.
One compelling theme emerged consistently: many students expressed that traditional job and college fairs no longer resonate with their generation. This insight became the foundation for the cohort’s final project. During the P20 Council’s quarterly in-person meeting held at the Land of Sky Regional Council office in Asheville students were invited to explore the future of college and career engagement. They responded to two new prompts:
- If you were an employer or post-secondary institution attending a local high school college/job fair, how would you attract students to your table? What would your table look like? How would you communicate with them effectively both during and after the event?
- Based on your own experience with college/job fairs, what is being done well and what could be improved?
The students’ presentations offered forward-thinking strategies and insightful observations, directly informing future outreach approaches. View the full slide compilation here
If one word could define this year’s cohort, it would be perseverance. Despite the disruptions and emotional weight of the year, each student approached their role with dedication, insight, and a spirit of innovation. Their contributions sparked meaningful dialogue across the Council offering real-world recommendations for both the education and employment sectors.
The P20 Council extends its deepest gratitude to these exceptional students for their work, their voices, and their unwavering commitment to shaping a better future.
