The New Jersey Association of Student Councils (NJASC) recently selected its 2014 Executive Board.

Jenna Panek will represent Monsignor Donovan High School, Toms River, as secretary on the NJASC executive board for 2014. Panek will serve from January 2014 to January 2015.

Panek’s preparation for the election began when she and two fellow students initiated the process by indicating their interest to run for a state office to MDHS student Council moderator Joan Fraclose. All three students attended the NJASC Fall conference for workshops on the election process and underwent internal school interviews to select the one member to represent the school. Being selected as the Monsignor Donovan representative, Panek and Fraclose attended a slating meeting at Bridgewater Raritan HS in mid December where Panek was interviewed by the 2013 executive board and slated to run for the office of secretary. Returning to school, Panek began the process of setting out her campaign strategies. Her campaign slogan was: “Don’t panic, Vote Jenna Panek for Secretary”.

On Jan. 9, Panek and her campaign team had one hour in which to campaign among the other high schools gathered at the student center of The College of New Jersey, Ewing. Panek presented her two-minute speech to the presidents of all the student councils who then cast ballots for the persons they selected for the executive board.

Panek is only the third student from Monsignor Donovan to hold a position on the state executive board. Paul D’Elia, Class of 1999 was president of the NJASC executive board and Tyler Krenek, Class of 2010 was executive member in charge of the state charity. As secretary, Panek will meet monthly with fellow executive board members to plan the various conferences and events the state council holds throughout the year.