Student Leadership

At VES, we believe every student has the potential to lead. In fact, students are encouraged to begin imagining their potential for leadership from the moment they step on campus.

Through our Student Leadership Program, we help students grow to understand themselves and their strengths, gain skills in cultivating healthy relationships, and envision how they can contribute their skills to our VES community and beyond. We spend time discussing what it means to lead, and provide opportunities for students to stretch themselves through formal leadership roles.

Formal student leadership roles exist at every grade level in the form of Student Council, composed of elected members responsible for organizing school activities and providing student feedback to the administration.

In the junior year, students who have demonstrated positive role modeling may be selected to be Resident Assistants, who lead activities and assist in creating a vibrant and healthy atmosphere on dorm.

As seniors, students selected by the community may serve in a range of important roles that lead the school in maintaining a culture of honor, integrity and healthy community norms. These positions include senior Counselors, Head Counselor, Honor Committee Member, Honor Committee Chair, senior Student Council, and Senior Class President of the Student Council.

In addition, students are invited to engage in the Admission process, acting as tour guides, Admission ambassadors, and Big Sibs, welcoming and supporting our newest students to life at VES.

VES Is Student Led

By participating in a variety of leadership roles on campus—in the classroom, the arts, athletics, clubs, and formal leadership councils—students voices shape the tone and culture of VES.

Opportunities range from serving on the Honor Committee, Counselor Body, Student Council, Vestry and Alpha Order; as Resident Assistants and team captains; as leaders of community service programs and much more.

Leadership Councils

Counselor Body

Selected by students and faculty and appointed by the Head of School each May, this group of seniors represents the best of VES. The Counselor Body’s first job is to uphold our school’s high ideals of honesty, integrity, effort and service. They serve as ambassadors of the school, counseling and leading fellow students toward a vibrant and productive life in the VES community.

This group is intentionally diverse, made up of unique individuals—scholars, athletes, artists and a mix of races and cultures. Their different talents and interests allow each to connect with and mentor like-minded students.

From the first day of school, they are involved in creating the campus tone of friendliness and respect by helping new students transition into the community. They organize school events, provide leadership on dorms, generate school spirit with fun activities and assist the faculty with the responsibilities of campus duty. Throughout the year, counselors serve as friends and mentors, offering encouragement, support, understanding and wisdom about the importance of good choices.

Vision Statement
The Student Counselors at VES are a bridge between faculty and students who proactively lead our community with humility and passion. We create a culture of care marked by a sense of inclusivity, fellowship and advocacy. We recognize our responsibility in creating and maintaining a lasting, impactful VES experience for every student.

2022-23 Counselor Body

Honor Committee

Selected by student vote, this judiciary committee promotes, supports and defends the honor system at VES by reviewing all honor offenses and making recommendations for consequences to the Head of School. The members of the Honor Committee serve as role models, promoting the moral and ethical values established by the school’s founder, Bishop Jett.

Every spring, the students of Virginia Episcopal School gather in the chapel to select the members of the next year’s Honor Committee. It is the only group of student leaders serving the school selected entirely by the student body and appointed by the Head of School.

Students wishing to serve on the committee must submit written applications, which are read by the student body. The elected members go through a rigorous training period with past and current members of the Honor Committee who share their experiences of serving on the committee. The new members also have the opportunity to observe numerous mock trials and conduct practice trials themselves.

At the start of each school year, the Honor Committee holds a special service for all students and faculty to sign an honor pledge, reminding the community of its high ideals of honesty and integrity. This committee represents one of the top leadership roles in the school.

2022-23 Honor Committee Members

Nikitha Prabhu, Chair of the Honor Committee | Lynchburg, Virginia

Student Council

With the council president and grade-level representatives selected by student vote, this group focuses on class leadership. Each class is tasked with a focus for improving life at VES, allowing students opportunities to develop leadership through service, spirit and school events.

The purpose of the VES student government is to:

Promote leadership and participation within the student body
Serve as communication liaisons between the student body and the faculty and administration
Encourage the expression of student concerns, opinions and issues
Expand student involvement in all areas of campus life, including community service

Elections for office are held each May for 10th, 11th and 12th grade representatives to serve the following school year. Freshmen representatives are elected in the fall of the school year in which they will serve.

All council members meet routinely to discuss school life, issues of concern, ways to promote school unity and individual class fellowship.

Vision Statement
The Student Council is a group that strives to be not only approachable, but also reliable in our work and activities. We are the liaison between the students and faculty who promotes an engaged and diverse community whose best interests we keep at heart.

2022-23 Student Council Members

Jim Smith, President | Merigold, Mississippi

Senior Class
Vane Peniche | Merida, Mexico
Nikitha Prabhu | Lynchburg, Virginia
Clark Watts | Lynchburg, Virginia

Freshman Class
Stella Jo | Seoul Korea
Martha Godwin | Raleigh, NC
Iyan Nkangwen | Upper Marlboro, MD
George Shull | Charlotte, NC

Junior Resident Assistants

The group—selected by faculty vote—is a positive component of our Residential Life program, assisting dorm parents with duty on all dorms. They also plan and host Friday night social events on campus for all students.

Vision Statement
As Junior Resident Assistants, we are committed to serving the VES community with diligence, empathy and enthusiasm. Our mission is to encourage a welcoming and inclusive culture. While achieving this objective, all will grow through hard work and fun on our journey towards full stature.

2022-23 Resident Assistants