The Spirit Leadership at Cate: A Cycle of Support

By Serena Zhang '28 and Evan Walters '28

As Cate enters the spring trimester and prepares for the closing of the school year, the prospect of applying for leadership positions for the 2026-2027 school year quickly becomes a topic of interest among students. Positions can range f

rom Blue Ewe ambassador, student librarian, or Cate net master, to prefects, teaching assistant, and affinity heads, which all require a thorough selection process.

Across interviews with juniors applying to be student leaders, the desire to give back to the Cate community emerged as a common theme. When asked why she wants to serve as a prefect or TA, Caroline Held '27 expressed, “I feel like building relationships is the first step to giving back to the community and demonstrating Cate's spirit of Servons.” Pari Malik '27 also communicated a similar view on leadership as she shared the impact her prefects made on her boarding experience: “This is the first time I have lived alone…and I just remember having prefects there was such a big part of that. I think it would be fulfilling for me to be able to carry on this cycle.” For many students, becoming a leader is a way to make their mark on the school's history. Pari made a reference to the Servons Speech of Oliver Charvel '26. “He asked, ‘What is the legacy you want to leave at Cate?” In response, Pari said, “I think being a leader is a part of it for me.”

In addition, many students wish to form strong bonds with younger students to contribute to Cate's close-knit, family-like community. Nolan Montoya '27 shared his desire to “build a strong foundation with all the incoming students.” He noted, “I think it is really important to foster that community understanding. I feel like between different grades, there should not be any boundary, and I think being a prefect, or TA, definitely helps with that.” Other students, such as Miles Williams '27, hope to provide greater opportunities to the underclassmen. Miles stated, “I really want to give students an opportunity that I did not have as a new student, like a mentor to teach me life skills I can apply to my life at Cate.”

When asked about the role that leadership plays at Cate, Ashley Chan '27 brought up the fact that “being a leader is beyond the titles at Cate.”She adds how, due to the small, close-knit community, “everyone contributes in their own way. I think it's really about the effort you put into it and what you are willing to do with it.” Indeed, many students acknowledge how every student possesses leadership skills at Cate. Nolan mentioned, “There are always leaders that you look up to who lead by example, such as sports captains, prefects, or TAs. But there are leaders who are with you throughout everything. When you are at a low, they are at the same low with you.”

When selecting prefects, faculty find it crucial to reflect on each student's character throughout their time at Cate and the reasons behind their applications. Erin Hansen, Dean of Campus Life, emphasized that it's about consistently demonstrating “service orientation from the get-go.” Additionally, Director of Residential Life, Shannon Drew, noted the importance of students showcasing their authentic selves. She emphasized that “We are looking to build a team, so there is not one model or type of prefect we are looking for every given year. When students authentically show up, it helps us make the best decision.” As Cate is such a small community, most faculty are familiar with students’ personalities and leadership skills, so acting in ways that are not typical are noticed by the faculty who make the decisions. Shannon touches on this topic as she claimed, “It's about your demonstrated leadership, community commitment, and service to the school before the spring of your junior year.”

 In terms of affinity heads, Elana Stone, Head of DEI, said, “For each affinity group, it's a little bit different” as they “look for students who can speak from the heart, who are committed to creating that space for students who share that identity and are really eager for students to find connection and community.” Mx. Stone also spoke on how “Having more than one leader is really important, as you could have somebody who is really good at logistics, and then have the other be much more interested in facilitating group dynamics and helping the students feel seen and heard.”

When applying for leadership roles, Cate students are focused not only on giving back to the community but also on making an impact. For most people, taking on a responsibility at the school is more than just possessing a title. For faculty, leadership applications are not just interviews or a few questions; they're also about how students have acted during their time at Cate. Most students, despite the stress of applying, are advised to stay true to themselves. Although students may be overwhelmed or anxious about leadership roles, there is always something for everyone, so even if a student doesn’t get a prefect or TA, there will still be other opportunities!