More than half of the Alverno High School student body recently took the Oath of Office during Alverno’s annual Inauguration on the terrace.
Modeled after the government of the United States, Alverno High School boasts a unique system of government that allows for more than 50 percent of students to be involved. Rather than the traditional “Associated Student Body” model, Alverno High School’s government is overseen by the Alverno Constitution and students are considered citizens of the Alverno Student Union. The Alverno Student Union includes the federal, legislative, and judicial branches as well as individual state governments.
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At the federal level are the President and Vice-President, Katia Jauregui and Alexia Palomino, who were elected as a ticket at Alverno’s annual Convention in April. The federal level is completed with a presidential cabinet, which includes positions like Chief of Domestic Protocol, Secretary of Activities, Secretary of Campus Ministry, Secretary of Performing Arts, and many more. Including President Jauregui and Vice-President Palomino, twenty-one sophomores, juniors, and seniors make up the federal level of the Alverno Student Union.
The legislative branch is composed of the Alverno Congress, which includes three representatives from each class, or state as they are known at Alverno. Congress drafts, passes, and approves bills and resolutions that affect the entire student body on a wide spectrum of policies. A judicial branch includes two Supreme Court justices from each state and a Chief Justice. The Supreme Court must agree a bill is constitutional before it may go into effect.
Finally, each state has its own Constitution as well as the following positions: Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant At Arms, and nine assemblywomen. These young women are responsible for making decisions specific to their own state.
“I believe that Alverno gives each and every one of its students the resources that we need to live to our highest potential during our four years here and the ones that come after,” said ASU President Katia Jauregui. “ASU is working hard to make this a great year for Alverno and together with Vice-President Palomino and our cabinet I know we are not only making changes for the present but for future years as well. ASU and I are completely dedicated to Alverno and I hope that we can empower other students to become involved in our community.”
“Our unique student government program is a perfect example of the monumental role our young women play in our school community. Each of the young women elected has made not only a commitment to Alverno, but a commitment to her peers to be an effective, compassionate, and servant leader,” said Alverno’s Head of School, Julia V. Fanara. “These values are basic tenets of the Alverno philosophy and our leadership program is just one of the ways Alverno empowers each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be.”
About Alverno High School
Alverno High School is a Catholic, private, college preparatory school for young women dedicated to preparing them to function in a society as informed, knowledgeable persons, who have the requisite skills to make and implement mature decisions about complex problems. Enlivened by the spirit of its Immaculate Heart Community sponsors, and mindful of the Franciscan roots of its founders, Alverno’s program—academic, spiritual, aesthetic, social, and physical—is shaped by the staff, trustees, and students in light of the world for which the students are being educated. Alverno’s mission is to empower each young woman to be exactly the person she wants to be and since 1960, Alverno has empowered more than 4,200 women to meet that goal. For more information about Alverno High School, please call (626) 355-3463 or visit www.alverno-hs.org.
