Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – Where there was one, there will now be three.

District 186, instead of replacing its student trustee with another one, is instead creating a student executive council, made up of one student from each of Springfield, Southeast, and Lanphier High Schools. The students are, respectively, Eva Abraham, Gabrielle Williams (pictured), and David Depper.

“I just want to say how thankful I am for this opportunity to serve for the district and try to make a difference in our lives,” said Williams.

School board president Erica Austin said, “Throughout the interview process, students demonstrated thoughtful perspectives, including student mental health, encouraging collaboration, academic opportunity, and equitable access to advanced coursework.”

“The fact that we have an executive council for student voices makes me really super excited for that,” said vice president Buffy Lael-Wolf, “because I think each high school in our district has a different take on – or a different perspective of – and we need to hear all of that”.