CATHOLIC BOARD ELECTS NEW STUDENT TRUSTEES

Local students have new representatives.

On Feb. 21, the Halton Catholic District School Board (HCDSB) elected three new students to act as the 2023 to 2024 student trustees. Diya Deepu was elected from Assumption Catholic Secondary School in Burlington, Arianna Chua was elected from St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School in Milton and Lauren McGuire was elected from St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School in Oakville.

All HCDSB secondary schools submitted candidates that demonstrated extensive involvement in their respective school, parish and local communities.

Student trustees attend regular board meetings, have a non-binding vote at the table, run the student senate and act as the student voice at the board table.

Diya Deepu — Burlington

A Grade 10 honour roll student at Assumption Catholic Secondary School, Deepu is actively involved in leadership positions with the student senate, student council and crusader council as well as "Assumption and the World."

Deepu has worked alongside various community support organizations such as Our Kids Network and the Reach Out Centre for Kids (ROCK), as well as various youth volunteer programs. She is currently the co-chair of the Halton Youth Voices Council, the lead senator of Assumption and the co-chair of the Catholic Faith in Action Subcommittee. She is an active member of the youth music ministry at Divine Retreat Centre Toronto.

"I am so honoured and grateful to have been elected as the HCDSB Student Trustee for the 2023-2024 school year. I'm looking forward to working with my fellow Student Trustees, the Student Senate and the Board to create a positive impact throughout our community! I can't wait to see what we accomplish next year," said Deepu.

Arianna Chua — Milton

A Grade 11 honour roll student at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Secondary School, they are the current North Halton student trustee, co-president of STFX Reps (student council), environmental sustainability co-chair with the Ontario Student Trustees' Association and currently an intern with Milton MP Adam van Koeverden.

"Being re-elected as the North Halton Student Trustee this year was the greatest honour of my life. I am so grateful that my HCDSB students re-elected me to serve them (for) another year.

"I can't wait to work with my fellow student trustees next year, empowering and uplifting student voice at the HCDSB," said Chua.

Lauren McGuire — Oakville

A Grade 10 honour roll student at St. Ignatius of Loyola Catholic Secondary School, she is the co-lead senator of Loyola's Home Senate, as well as student senate special education subcommittee co-chair, and sits on both the HCDSB Board-wide Equity Group and the EQAO Student Advisory Committee, a provincial-level committee. McGuire is a member of Best Buddies, the debate team and Reach Trivia Team junior captain.

"It is a privilege to be voted by my peers to represent Oakville as a Student Trustee. I hope to bring student voice at the board and provincial level and help make our school board a better place. I am looking forward to working with my two fellow student trustees and the Board of Trustees this coming school year," McGuire said.