Cooper students share voices at student summit

The Cooper High School (CHS) cafeteria buzzed with energy on Nov. 21 as students gathered for the fifth annual CHS Student Summit. Organized and led by the Student Council, the event brought together about 100 students, representing every grade, to share ideas, elevate student voices, and shape the future of their school, one meaningful conversation at a time. 

The Student Council selected four areas of focus for the summit: safety, climate and culture, learning environment, and student life. For each topic, the 11 tables of students were given 20 minutes to share their experiences, feedback, and possible improvements. 

“The goal of the student summit is to amplify student voices,” said CHS senior Chad Hill. “As Student Council president, I feel it is our responsibility to have students' perspectives be heard and to be our highest priority. The student summit is a great way to achieve that.”

At each table, members of the Student Council served as facilitators and note takers, gathering information to be compiled and shared with the entire council and CHS administration. Blank posters were also available for attendees to share further thoughts or questions on any of the topics at the conclusion of the event.

“It’s also important that students listen to the opinions of people around them, and have conversations about the positives and negatives,” said CHS junior Kyllander Nelson, CHS’ Student Council Vice President. “Student Council is a reflection of the student body and what’s important to them, so it’s crucial to have events where we get the broader perspective!”

“One of my biggest takeaways was that students want to be a part of making CHS a better place,” said Hill. “The future of Cooper is bright, and I can’t wait to see how bright it gets.”