Hundreds of Student Government Leaders Converge on Mehlville

Students from all over Missouri flocked to Mehlville last weekend to attend the annual convention for the Missouri Association of Student Councils, an event that drew an estimated 900 students and adult advisers from 145 schools to the district.

The three-day event spanned March 10-12 and featured student-run workshops, presentations and discussions along with keynote speakers designed to provide encouragement and new ideas to Missouri’s student leaders.

“They learn what (other students) do at their school that works well,” said Mehlville High School math teacher Jane Ebert. In conjunction with fellow teacher Kerrie Kern, Ebert serves as an adviser to the Mehlville High School student council, and the two co-chaired the organization's efforts behind the convention.

However, Ebert said the credit for bringing the event to Mehlville—something Ebert described as a huge honor—and then successfully staging it belongs to the students.

“We had the right group of kids, and we knew they could do the job,” Ebert said. “We knew they would be willing to put in the time.”

At each convention, schools can choose to put in a bid to host it for the following year, a process that involves putting on a skit, making a presentation and setting up a booth. The students attending the convention then vote to decide who will hold it next.

At last year’s convention in Independence, MO, Mehlville faced off against Webster Groves and came away with the victory. Ebert said making the convention possible required countless hours from Mehlville’s 130-member student council and its executive board, plus students from her leadership class.

On Friday afternoon, the executive board and co-chairs Brendan Heinkel and Morgan Siebert directed an assembly in the high school gym packed with the hundreds of students who attended the convention. Decorations adorned the gym and the energetic proceedings were streamed live on the high school’s .

The assembly served as a pep rally of sorts and afterwards, Heinkel and Siebert explained what they hoped the three-day convention would impart to those who attended.

“I hope everyone leaves better equipped to be a leader because there have been so many opportunities for them to expand their leadership qualities,” Siebert said.

Heinkel added that he hoped the variety of activities and presentations would also serve to bring everyone together and, in turn, inspire the students to plan events for their school that will bring their student body together.

Besides picking up valuable leadership skills, student organizer and convention fundraiser Brent Pearson said the convention is also a lot of fun.

“It’s really a great time for students to come out and make new friends,” he said. “It’s like a second family.”

Flushed with enthusiasm after leading the massive pep rally, Siebert and Heinkel said it had been amazing just to see all of their hard work come together. The convention also marks a dream come true for the two student government representatives.

“Ever since my first state convention, I knew I wanted my school to host it,” Heinkel said.

“It probably will be the highlight of my high school career,” Siebert added.