Under the guidance of High School Special Education teacher Lexi Bowen, eleven members of the Junior High Student Council gathered to talk about developing leadership skills while bringing joy to their school community through creative fundraising and service projects.

Unlike traditional student councils that require elections and campaigns, Meridian's Junior High Council operates on a volunteer basis with additional standards. Bowen explains, " I check their grades and ensure there are no out-of-school suspensions, no detentions. If they're on student council, they need to be ones that people look up to."

This approach has created a diverse council of Junior High students who are eager to serve their school community. Their activities center around bringing joy to fellow students through seasonal fundraisers and special events. "Basically, we do something for everybody," explains council member Jeremiah Glover.

The Valentine's Day fundraiser for Junior High and Elementary schools stands out as their most successful venture, featuring popular items: crush sodas and special candy grams. "The Valentine's Day items are a big hit with the families," Bowen shares. "I send home order forms, and they place orders."

But the students' favorite fundraiser is the sucker sale. Council member Haven Anderson enthusiastically describes the process: "Ms. Lexi would get the suckers, and we would just tell people, and we would put up signs and say, 'Come get suckers.' And they're only a dollar, so they're really cheap."

The students take ownership of the marketing, creating colorful signs using Canva and strategically place them around the building. “The blueberry is a really big hit. It's always out," Haven notes.

These fundraising efforts support meaningful activities for their peers. The Student Council hosts an annual celebration lunch for the junior high boys' basketball team and cheerleaders, bringing in pizza from local establishments. In the past, they financially supported the eighth-grade dance.

Perhaps their most impactful service is the fifth-grade move-up day. Bowen hand-selects trustworthy Council members to guide incoming fifth graders through the junior high, showing them classrooms and helping ease their transition. Students like Arthaniel Davis, Kairei Martin, and others have served as ambassadors, making younger students feel welcome.

For the students, Student Council participation offers more than just service opportunities. "It's fun," says eighth-grader DaKiyaha Meadows. "And you get to learn a lot about selling stuff," reports Anna Temke.

Fellow member Zion Green joined the Student Council because "I thought it was really fun and a good opportunity for me to join and communicate with other students and help out." Avanna Giden adds simply, "I like helping people out, and I just thought it was going to be fun."

The inclusive nature of the Council is evident in its membership, with several first-year participants like Ja’mya Smith, Kayshia Brown, and Malaijah Davis joining more experienced members. Each brings their own motivation—from Malaijah's enthusiasm for "helping sell stuff" to the simple desire to serve others.

What makes this group special extends beyond their activities. "The group of kids in this room are great kids," Bowen emphasizes. "These are the ones who I think all of the other junior high kids look up to. I can have any one of them do an errand for me and trust them."