Girls become leaders at St. Margaret's School, where there are more than 50 opportunities to captain teams, lead class activities, head organizations and help administer campus life. Students elected or selected for 2006-2007 positions in school government, the peer leader program and the dormitories were installed in a recent candlelight chapel service.

The new leaders then went on a weekend retreat with Head of School Margaret R. Broad, Dean of Faculty and leadership teacher George McDowell, and Director of Residence Natasha McClain. Supplied with the results of a student survey and guided by top administrators, they returned with challenging goals for the coming year. These include modeling and upholding the Honor Code, promoting school spirit, creating a homelike campus environment, offering opportunities for other girls to build competence and confidence, and providing a student voice for school policies.

“We’re proud of our school and want to keep things going in a good direction,” said 2007 School President Bukola Omotade. “We know that at many other schools, we wouldn’t have the kind of input that we have at St. Margaret’s,” added 2007 Honor Council Head and peer leader Ligon Brooks of Millers Tavern. “Students can really make a difference here.”

In addition to Brooks, faculty and students selected two area girls for leadership positions: Laura Gorham of Tappahannock, head day prefect and peer leader, and Chelsea Jacobs of Dunnsville, peer leader.

Boarding students chosen for leadership positions are Taylor Bryant of West Haven, CT, Honor Council member and prefect; Katie Coffey of Japan, school vice president and peer leader; Courtney Gibson of Glen Burnie, MD, peer leader; Su Jin Jeon of Korea, peer leader and prefect; Da Hae Lee of Korea, Honor Council member and peer leader; Tetyana McCain of Chapel Hill, NC, peer leader and prefect; Hannah McKee of Winston-Salem, NC, chief sacristan, peer leader and prefect; Taylor Miller of Warrenton, senior class president, peer leader and prefect; Bukola Omotade of Elmont, NY, school president and peer leader; Leandra Osei of Silver Spring, MD, junior class president and prefect; and Aubrey Sozer of Fairfax Station, head boarding prefect, Honor Council member and peer leader.

New dormitory prefects also were named. In addition to Bryant, Jeon, McCain, McKee, Miller and Osei, these students will work with residential life staff to ensure a safe and healthy community: Katherine Burnett of Burlington, NC; Hailey Jung of Korea; Saori Kaneko of Japan; Ji-Ye Kim of Korea; and Brittany Wilburn of Fairfax.