Meet Catlin Gabel's 2026 Upper School Student Government Leaders

Rose H. (’27), student body president, and Atharva D. (’27), vice president, talk about leadership, community, and what they hope to build this year.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

Describe your roles in student government.

Rose: As president, I lead our weekly Catlin Gabel Student Association (CGSA) meetings, where we tackle everything from questions of culture to party planning. I also serve on the Board of Trustees, which gives me access to school leadership and opportunities, and I get to bring that back to our community.

Atharva: As vice president, I support the student body and CGSA. In meetings, that might mean pointing out who hasn't spoken yet or offering a different perspective. Rose and I also spend a lot of time behind the scenes thinking about our values as leaders and our goals for the next few months. I'm also helping Alumni Relations Director Rebecca Allen with an alumni connections catalog, which links Upper Schoolers with alumni in fields like law, engineering, even TV.

What drew you to run for CGSA leadership?

Atharva: Students created a sustainability coordinator role to bring a climate justice voice to everything from dances to decisions about the Schnitzer Center. I loved being part of a group that advocates for student voice and then works to make change, and I wanted a hand in shaping culture, too.

Rose: I came in as a ninth grader after COVID, looking for connection. I realized a lot of people are searching for it, and that belonging makes moments more meaningful. The people I saw building community were often in CGSA. You have the influence to break down barriers that keep people from participating.

One thing that I've been thinking a lot about is how do we ask people to participate in our community and show up to sporting events, plays, and come together, and how do we also recognize what's stopping them from doing that? For example, If students are overwhelmed with homework, how do we lessen that load so that they can be part of our community?

How would you describe your leadership styles in 3-5 words?

Atharva: I have five words, from a sticker I bought at a bookstore in Manzanita on a CGSA retreat: “I run a tight shipwreck.” 

Rose: I'd say empathetic and loud. I do a lot of self-reflection, which helps me hear both sides of a conflict. And I'm loud in the sense of using my voice to advocate for others. That's counterintuitive to how we sometimes position women as leaders, as if they should take up less space. I'm kind of the opposite of that, and I'm intentional about it.

Atharva: I'd add “understanding” for Rose. In CGSA, every issue feels like the biggest issue in the world to the person raising it, and Rose listens well and works those priorities into what the group does.

What do you do outside of CGSA?

Atharva: I co-lead the Environmental Action Team, where we advocate to the administration that sustainability should be a core value here, not an afterthought, especially because we live on a campus with so much wildlife and habitat. 

Rose: I play volleyball, and I've also tried basketball and track and field. For me, volleyball is about leadership and empathy as much as competition. I also started Strong, a club for female empowerment through weightlifting, after noticing that the gym felt closed off to many students.

What do you most want CGSA to accomplish this year?

Atharva: Being proud to be a Catlin Gabel student matters a lot to me, and I want that reflected in everything we do. That means feeling safe in any space, feeling like you belong, even looking at our campus and not seeing trash on the floor because someone picked it up.

Rose: Spirit is something I care a lot about, and I want to lower the barriers to participation so everyone can feel connected to their peers and proud of where they go to school.

Is there a CGS memory that shaped how you think about community?

Atharva: Community engagement days my freshman year. About 15 of us made over 250 packed lunches for our unhoused neighbors in the pouring rain, with hygiene products and handwritten notes. No one cared about the weather. It showed me the kind of impact I can have.

Rose: Senior night for volleyball last year. We'd lost to Valley Catholic three times, but we won in five sets in front of the biggest crowd I've ever seen, with the stands shaking because of how loud people were cheering. I also think of Kate Williams (Catlin Gabel Athletics Director and Head Varsity Girls Basketball Coach), who infuses people with the confidence to try anything. That's what community looks like here.

Which school traditions are you most excited about?

Rose: Senior Nights, where we cheer on our senior athletes with giant cutouts of their baby faces. I think it shows how impactful supporting and showing up for other people is. 

Atharva: Senior Buddies, when seniors pair up with a first grader for pumpkin carving and other get-togethers. It makes a lifelong memory for the younger kids, and I'm excited to create that for someone.