2026-2027 National Student Council

Addison Yannetta

President

Addison is a junior at Bishop Fenwick High School in Franklin, OH. Her leadership journey didn’t start in school but in the gym. A competitive gymnast for 11 years at the Junior Olympic level, she has mentored younger gymnasts and enjoys inspiring and serving others.  

She ran for president because she believes that students’ voices are powerful and deserve to be heard. She also believes that leadership isn’t something to be taken lightly, and that by committing to putting others before yourself, you become the very definition of a servant leader.   

As president, she will strive to listen to concerns, come up with adequate solutions, amplify student voices, and build schools we are all proud to be a part of every day.

Thomas Buhrfiend

Secretary

Thomas is a junior at York Community High School in Elmhurst, IL. His leadership journey started in fourth grade when he joined his class council to sell pencils and phone erasers at a holiday sale. As a 10-year-old, he remembers thinking that managing quarters and dimes was the height of responsibility.  

In high school, he’s approached every role with organization top of mind. He participates in his school’s student ambassador program, the junior board of West Suburban Community Pantry, and the Illinois Association of Student Councils (IASC). He was recently elected president of the Northeast District, where he elevates student voices from across the Chicagoland area.  

At a certain point, he realized he needed to move beyond structured groups to create lasting impact. After writing to an Illinois House Representative about issues students were facing, he was privileged to work in her office. Months later, he returned to her office with a proposal to update a 1993 state law, permitting districts to count service hours towards graduation credit. He’s  continuing this work as part of a superintendent roundtable, where he’ll advocate for formal recognition of real-world learning through service. As secretary, he’ll  bring organizational skills and an optimistic attitude to the National Student Council. 

Shaunak Buche

Vice President of Advocacy

Shaunak is a junior at Lambert High School in Suwanee, GA. His leadership journey did not start with a title or a plan. It started with a question he could not let go of: Why were students the last people consulted about their own school experience? As a sophomore, he started cold-emailing school districts asking if he could talk to their students about disability inclusion. Most said no. He kept emailing. That persistence became the ASCEND Learning Guide, now partnered with UNICEF and Special Olympics and growing across dozens of school districts.  

But the moment that changed him was watching a student with a learning disability lead a peer training session for the first time and realizing that everything he had built had been missing that student’s voice. That realization shaped how he leads. As a state student council state officer, he focused on making sure student input actually changed outcomes.  

On Georgia’s 7th Congressional District Youth Advisory Council, he is proposing anti-bullying legislation for students in special education because he has seen what happens when no one does. When his research at Stanford University revealed how vulnerable students are to algorithmic systems they were never taught to question, he began working on legislation around AI and student safety because waiting for someone else felt like a choice he could not justify. He is running for vice president of advocacy to advocate for integrating digital safety and disability inclusion into student council programming so that the students most affected by these issues are never the last ones included in the conversation.  

Samuel Park

Vice President of Communications

Samuel is a junior at Eastern Technical High School in Baltimore, MD. His leadership journey began as historian for the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC), where he served two consecutive years. He then became community outreach director for the Baltimore County Student Councils and communications director and lead for MASC. In that role, he created publications that were shared countywide and even nationally through the National Coalition Against Censorship, where he advocates for student free speech.  

As a videographer for school events, he’s spent considerable time mastering his craft behind the camera. A three-time marketing ambassador for the National Association of Student Councils and also served as a marketing ambassador for College Board. 

He’s ran for vice president of communications to magnify the impact of student voices. He hopes to make NSC more visible, more accessible, and more engaging for student leaders everywhere.  

Sienna Sandoval

Vice President of Leadership Development

Sienna is a sophomore at Moanalua High School in Honolulu, HI. Her leadership journey began eight years ago with a simple hygiene drive. But her mission changed forever at a recent convention when an elementary student asked, “How did you start a youth leadership initiative nonprofit? My school doesn’t have anything like that.” That moment exposed a gap: Many students have the passion to lead but lack the tools to start. She realized that leadership shouldn’t be a privilege for the few; it should be accessible to everyone. This is why she founded The Ripple Effect Initiative. To her, leadership development is a “hand-off.” It starts with a workshop, expands through digital outreach, and finishes with a new leader standing where she once stood. 

As a high school student, she learned how to balance. Whether serving as freshman class president, chairing the co-curricular concerns committee for state student council, or competing in mock trial, she has learned that true leadership is about service. She is running for vice president of leadership development to ensure NSC becomes the ultimate “hand-off.” She wants to provide the workshops and resources that turn a student’s “how” into “done.” She brings the strategic experience of a state representative and the heart of a community builder. Her goal is to move past the titles and focus on the people, building a future where every student knows their voice matters. 

Dante Tapia

Vice President of Membership

Dante is a junior at Rock Hill High School in Frisco, TX. As his school’s junior class representative, he has designed opportunities that bring people together, strengthen his community, and make participation meaningful for members of his school’s student council.  

As vice president of membership, he will ensure that the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) feels accessible, exciting, and impactful for every student and school, regardless of their background. With is passion for bringing different perspectives to the table, adjusting plans to improve outcomes, and fostering collaboration that benefits everyone’s ideas, he hopes to expand NASC membership. 

Cora Palm

Vice President of Service

Cora is a junior at Orono High School in Orono, MN. Throughout her life, she has enjoyed making an impact on her community. She has taken on numerous responsibilities while effectively balancing both academic and extracurricular pursuits. As a member of her school’s student council, she helps plan and volunteer at events that promote a positive school culture and community. Recently, she was elected prom chair, a role in which she oversees much of the planning process and decision-making. She also serves as vice president of the Orono Letters of Love chapter, where she organizes meetings and manages over 50 members. In addition, she is involved in NHS and Unified Sports (Special Olympics) club.  

Outside of school, she works as a teacher at her church, volunteers at community events, and coaches two youth soccer teams. Through these experiences, she has developed strong values of service, leadership, and character. She is running for vice president of service to extend her impact beyond her local community, collaborate with students from diverse backgrounds, and bring back ideas to strengthen her community. 

Anderson Louis Jay

Middle Level Representative

Anderson is a seventh grader at Perry Hall Middle School in Baltimore, MD. From his parents he has learned that a leader is not defined by a title, but by their actions and words. In school and on the soccer field, he is always striving to support and encourage others to be the best version of themselves.  

As captain of his soccer team, he has learend how to talk to referees, de-escalatesituations between players on the field, and motivate his team. As the events chair at his school, he has also learned how to work with different personalities and make split-second decisions to stay positive. 

A vocal leader who stands up for others, he is running for middle level representative. He takes pride in his communication skills and hopes to raiseawareness of NASC. 

Aanshi Deliwala

Middle Level Representative

Aanshi is a seventh grader at Marvin Ridge Middle School in Waxhaw, NC. Her leadership journey started in elementary school years when she was inspired by her sister who ran for student council in sixth grade.  

Her own student council experience has taught her about how other people work hard to achieve their goals, which in turn has inspired her to dream big.  

She often thinks about something she heard at one student leadership conference: “Everyone says you are the leaders of tomorrow but what is stopping you from being the leaders of today? You are the first step in making the world a better place.” This quote has motivated her to not only run for middle level representative but also help her school community. Whether it’s sending staff appreciation letters or sorting lollipops for a fundraiser, she  tries her best to contribute to her school community. Serving on the National Student Council would help her achieve her dream of making everyone feel welcome and wanted at every conference and event. 

Julie Nguyen

Middle Level Representative

Julie is a seventh grader at Marvin Ridge Middle School in Waxhaw, NC. She has been a member of her school’s student council for two years. In seventh grade, she served as a middle school vice chair of the North Carolina Association of Student Councils (NCASC). Through both experiences, she has developed her collaboration and communication skills. Outside of school, she participates in community service activities, fundraisers, and festivals with the Vietnamese Association of Charlotte.  

She is running for middle level representative to help the National Association of Student Counicls grow, and she can’t wait to bring her enthusiasm and passion to NSC.