An Inside Look into Our 2026/ 2027 Student Body President and Vice President

Can they be our Hiroez? Yes. They can.

In April, three fabulous pairs from the class of 2027 campaigned with heart and grit to determine who would be the student body president and vice president for the 2026-2027 school year. After a long ten days of immersing themselves and their campaign within the Cate community, positions previously held by Barron Crayton ‘26 (president) and Jen Won ‘26 (vice president) have now been passed down to Kakeru Hirofuji ‘27 (president) and Analise Gomez ‘27 (vice president). 

As their presidency is soon underway, the new President and Vice President pair are planning to implement change based on their four pillars: belonging, change, speed, and wellness, with equal focus on each. In anticipation of next year, Cate School is curious about what the Hiroez (Kakeru + Analise campaign name) will bring. During an interview with the two, Kakeru and Analise share their goals, anticipated challenges, and what lies ahead next year. 

Out of the goals you talked about in your campaign, which three are key priorities for the next year?

Kakeru + Analise: Of the goals mentioned in our campaign, we see our priorities to be in the following areas: instituting an online senate platform, installing pilot projects, and restructuring senate meetings. An online system—which will include a Senate Schoology page with easy access to resources—will make it easier for students to interact with the Senate, serving as a scaffolding for the system. It would also speed up the entire bill-passing process. Regarding the pilot projects, these monthly "tasks" for each member of the senate ensure that change is ongoing to address issues as they arise. 

Kakeru + Analise: Finally, we plan to restructure senate meetings by digitizing the bill submission process and dedicating more time during the meeting for members to work on their respective pilot projects. Overall, everything we mentioned serves as the building blocks for small changes and activities; these systems ensure that the school is constantly improving, and thus, it is our utmost priority to build them first. 

How do you plan to transition from current initiatives to your own initiatives?

Kakeru + Analise: The year is slowly coming to an end, and with that, our presidency is approaching. In transitioning from the wonderful Wayton presidency to ours, we are looking to maintain the amazing job they have already done in establishing such a strong culture at Cate, while introducing the new systems we mentioned above. We will coordinate with them during this process to make the transition as smooth as possible. 

What is one small thing about the student experience that you are committed to changing?

Kakeru + Analise: At the end of the day, though, what we care about most is the sense of joy and belonging students experience at Cate. That's why we're planning to bring back Dorm Olympics and increase the number of activities that bring the community together. Amidst the academic rigor, we hope to offer some valuable time for unwinding that amplifies the true beauty of this place: you, the people.

By January 2027, what progress should the student body expect to see?

Kakeru + Analise: We are not perfect. We will work to the fullest to prioritize what the community wants, but ultimately, we know we won't be able to please everyone. However, by 2027, we hope that students will see active efforts to improve the school.

How would you want the 2026-2027 school year to be remembered compared to previous years?

Kakeru + Analise: If we were to describe the 2026-2027 school year in one word, we hope it would be impactful. We hope the systems of change we install will serve as a foundation for Cate's improvement in the years to follow. More importantly, though, we hope students will look back and be happy with what Analise and I have accomplished. 

The transition of one leadership era to the next is always a moment filled with nostalgia and excitement. As the Wayton chapter closes and the Hiroez era begins, the Hiroez are not committed to a promise of perfection, but committed to laying the foundations for change and prioritizing community needs that shaped their campaign. 

While Kakeru and Analise have put in place the building blocks for an amazing year to come, the success of the year won’t rest solely on their shoulders but also on ours. As we move toward the fall of 2026, the Cate community has the opportunity to engage with these new systems, from the Schoology Senate page to the Dorm Olympics. Each initiative has been carefully crafted. The Schoology page allows each member of the senate to address issues while getting student input. As for events to come, the Dorm Olympics and ‘student of the week’ aim to foster a sense of belonging among all students, emphasizing that it is the people who make Cate the place it is. 

The Hiroez are ready to lead. Now, it is time for the rest of us to show up, speak up, and help build the impactful year they’ve envisioned.