By Juliette Gaggini ’20
Every year, around twenty-five members of the Junior class run for the Senior leadership position of prefect. After a long process starting in January, the final eight prefect elects for the 2020-2021 school year were announced on Monday, April 20. Although the election had to run slightly differently with virtual accommodations, the candidates gave speeches, participated in a live Q & A session, and were chosen after two rounds of voting.
The community was happy to see how many passionate and dedicated candidates there were, all of whom will continue to lead the school next year with many different leadership positions and positive roles in the community.
Listed below, in alphabetical order by first name, are brief introductions to the eight final prefect elects.
Anjavie Thompson
Waterbury, Connecticut
Years at The Gunnery: Rising four year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: Mac & Cheese
Favorite Gunnery tradition: Investiture
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? Being able to finally touch Senior Rock.
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? During my time as prefect I hope to strengthen our school spirit. The Gunnery is full of such amazing people with great energy, and I know we can use all of our available resources to make sure we have great school spirit. School spirit is important because it sets the tone for various aspects of the school and its students, even faculty. When the student body is involved in events on and off campus, it demonstrates Highlander Pride that is unlimited and contagious. I am very excited to work with the other prefects and I can not wait to get the ball rolling in the fall.
Fun Fact: From Kindergarten to 4th grade, I never missed a day of school!
Declan Long
Riverside, Connecticut
Years at The Gunnery: Rising three year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: PB & J
Favorite Gunnery tradition: Pack the Rink
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? Senior Coffee at The Beckers
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? During my time as prefect I hope to not only become my best self and shape my character, but to serve as a student-athlete leader, role model, and listener to all students and faculty in our community. I want to leave a legacy for our group of prefects that allows other groups to look upon what we have done to benefit our school environment and continue to build off of our work for years to come. Go Gunn and let’s have a great year!
Fun Fact: I play hockey, soccer, and baseball!
Ella McKhann
Cornwall, Vermont / Washington, Connecticut
Years at The Gunnery: Rising two year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: Sunday brunch omelettes
Favorite Gunnery tradition: Holiday dinner and concert
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? The privilege to sit on Senior Rock!
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? I hope to be able to leave the school a better place than I found it. The Prefects this year did such a good job uniting the school and creating an atmosphere that fostered school spirit. I want to work together with the other Prefects to continue to raise school spirit and expand on the ideas that have already been put in place. I hope that together we can create a more cohesive community than ever before, a community that stands by each other through it all, where everyone feels supported and loved.
Fun Fact: The day I was born it was -40 oF with windchill. Winter has always been my favorite season by far, and seeing the ground and trees blanketed in snow is my favorite thing ever!
Ellie McManus
New Canaan, CT
Years at The Gunnery: Rising four year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall Food: Chicken noodle soup
Favorite Gunnery Tradition: Holiday Dinner and Concert
Our senior class tradition you are excited for? Four year senior dinner with all my four year buddies :))
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? I want to channel my empathy and experiences as a, soon to be, 4 year senior into the community that has shaped me, by advocating for my fellow Highlanders. I hope to serve as a voice for the student body, as well as a safe place to discuss all issues that arise. I want to be a place people can go to with anything; whether it’s an accomplishment or a problem.
Fun fact: I can put my arms on backwards- super strange, I know.
Eujin Shin
Rochester Hills, Michigan
Years at The Gunnery: Rising two year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: Chocolate chip cookies
Favorite Gunnery tradition: All school walk
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? Touching Senior Rock!
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? I hope to accomplish a stronger sense of community and school spirit. I want everyone to feel welcomed and safe at school.
Fun Fact: I am scared of fish!
Jack Gleason
Wake Forest, North Carolina
Years at The Gunnery: Rising four year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: Turkey and mashed potatoes
Favorite Gunnery tradition: My favorite Gunnery tradition is the dodgeball dorm challenge, although I’m still kept up at night from when I apparently “stepped over the line” while in a 1v1 situation against Gunn Dorm.
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? A senior class tradition that I am excited about is getting to see the letter that I wrote to my future self during my freshman year, because I have completely forgotten what was on it.
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? What I want to do next year as a prefect is to give the same positive influence to freshman and incoming students that I was so lucky to receive my freshman year, and just to always make others feel comfortable and at home on our campus.
Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I have 4 sisters and 0 brothers, and one of them, Anna, is currently in the freshman class.
Jon Nichele
Old Lyme, Connecticut
Years at The Gunnery: Rising three year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: Holiday Dinner Steak
Favorite Gunnery tradition: Clash of Colors
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? Senior Coffee House
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? As a Prefect, I hope to have every student who spends their high school years at The Gunnery look back and be proud of what they accomplished. We praise the “leave it better than you found it” mindset here, and this motto can be applied to each member of our community themselves. Additionally, I hope to extend our community’s influence beyond the walls of our campus, and allow for the world to see the phenomenal people and talents within our student body. Above all, my goal is to help at least one individual graduate from The Gunnery knowing that they have grown beyond what they thought possible for themselves during their first orientation week.
Fun Fact: I’ve been playing Lacrosse and Drum Set for almost all of my life!
Josh Novick (Head Prefect)
Laurel Hollow, New York
Years at The Gunnery: Rising four year Senior
Favorite Dining Hall food: Quesadillas or the Caesar salad
Favorite Gunnery tradition: Convocation or the Holiday Concert
What is one senior class tradition you are excited for? I’m excited to touch the senior rock- as I’m sure a bunch of my peers are as well. I am also thrilled for the senior coffee with Mr. Becker and the four-year senior dinner.
What do you hope to accomplish as a prefect? As a Prefect, I want to try to accomplish many things. I want to be instrumental in the transition of new students into our community, as well as a big supporter of furthering our school spirit! Additionally, I want to try to have more international fairs and cultural dinners since I believe one hour in the Fall term is insufficient in fully immersing our students into each other’s cultures. Lastly, I want to make this inclusive community even more open-minded and accepting!
Fun Fact: I have twin older siblings and my favorite TV show is Impractical Jokers.
