The Senior Class Legacy Board announced the class of 2023 class officers at its annual formal dinner on April 4.
More than 100 juniors gathered in the Searle Center to hear the long-awaited results.
The new class officers are as follows: President, Andrew Davidson; Vice President, Josh Barker; Secretary, Joseph Coleman; Treasurer, Beth Potwardowski, and Social Chair, Megan Williams.
Davidson, who is currently enrolled in the Washington-Hillsdale Internship Program, said he and Barker were both watching the livestream of the event from the same apartment when they first heard the news.
“It was very, very exciting,” Davidson said. “As the officer names were being announced one by one, we leaned in, and jumped out of our seats when we heard the news.”
Davidson said he feels gratitude toward the entire rising senior class, but especially his girlfriend, junior Abbee Ewell, who helped hang up his posters and raise support while he was many miles away.
“It wouldn’t have been possible without people like her, and all those who stood by me,” Davidson said.
Davidson recognized his first role as a representative is to listen, whether that is about commencement speaker ideas or other senior class issues.
“Whether you’re my best friend or I haven’t had the honor of meeting you yet, I want to listen to you,” he said. “I’ll do my best to stand back and let you lead.”
Coleman, who is also on WHIP and was in class during the announcement, said he has had the desire to serve the senior class to give back to the community at Hillsdale. He said he looks forward to getting started.
“All the work is ahead, and that is what is most exciting,” Coleman said. “I want to make Hillsdale great again, though I’d argue that Hillsdale is already great.”
“I am so excited to be able to plan events for the senior class to be able to create memories with one another and have some fun during their final moments on Hillsdale’s campus,” Williams said.
Along with the officers, current Legacy Board member and senior Jaime Boersma announced its new members: Gabs Bessette, Jack Hammons, Kathryn Luke, Tom MacPhee, Kate Pipher, Madison Pyhel, Haley Strack, Eamonn Weed, and Katie Weis.
The Legacy Board, which is going into its third year, increased in number from seven to nine, according to Assistant Director of Alumni Relations Braden VanDyke ’21. In addition, VanDyke said this year’s board will start its work at the end of this semester, with the hopes of selecting a senior gift by the beginning of the fall semester, to give more time to fundraise for the project than in previous years.
Before announcing the officers and board members, juniors heard from retired Professor of History Tom Connor, who reflected on the importance of legacy in light of the history of Hillsdale.
“All that the college stands for is constantly at risk,” Connor said. “Each class has to prove itself and leave its own legacy.”
In addition, current class president Jacob Hooper reflected on the gravity of the class officer positions, which he said are much more than positions of authority.
“Do not be misled,” he said. “These are positions of service.”
VanDyke said that there were many qualified nominees for all the positions.
“The ballot was full of very compelling candidates,” he said.
He said the legacy board dinner has been a very successful event over the past three years.
“The legacy dinner helps fixate juniors focus on their senior year,” he said. “Electing these two boards of people is fun and exciting.”
