Shannon Litz / Nevada AppealStudent council members, from left: sophomore Lydia Lopez, junior Hannah Novak, junior Odile Reid, junior Emmy Heller, junior Mallory Wilson, sophomore Cheena Amaranto and sophomore Mariah Whitcome.
Emmy Heller is no stranger to politics.
Her father, Dean Heller, was Nevada's secretary of state from the time she was born until he was elected to Congress in 2007. Last year, he was appointed to the U.S. Senate when John Ensign resigned.
"It's always just been a normal part of my life," she said.
But she feels like she understands him better now that she's run her own campaign for student body president of Carson High School.
"I thought about that so many times," she said. "He has an entire state he has to worry about. That just blows my mind. There's no way I would be able to handle that stress."
Emmy, 17, has never held a student office before, but decided to get involved for her senior year.
"I knew this would be a good opportunity to share my ideas with leadership," she said. "It will be a great experience, and it will help me grow as a person."
Elections at Carson High School are held mid-year to give incoming officers a chance to shadow the incumbent for a semester before taking over the following year.
After a hard-fought campaign, she said, she found out last week that she won the vote.
"I texted my mom and dad right away," she said. "They were so excited."
Sen. Dean Heller wrote on his Facebook page: "Congrats to Emmy for being elected Carson High's student body president. Well done, Madam President."
Emmy said she relied on help from both her parents during the campaign, with her dad helping her nail down her positions and create talking points for her speeches.
"We joked around a little bit, but some of his stuff was really helpful."
As president, Emmy said, she already has some ideas about possible fundraisers and wants to work to make the school more environmentally friendly by implementing green policies.
While she's looking forward to her term, which begins with a swearing-in ceremony in May, Emmy said she will likely peruse a career in something related to animals - not politics.
"It was so nerve-wracking, it kind of convinced me I don't want to go into politics," she said.
But she will continue to support her father - who commutes to Washington, D.C., every week from Carson City - even though much of his time at home is spent campaigning across Nevada.
"It just makes me cherish the moments more that I get with him," she said.
Other student body officers are:
Vice president: Mallory Wilson
Mallory, 16, has been involved in student leadership since the eighth grade.
As vice president, one of her duties will be planning school assemblies.
"Even as a freshman, I looked up to the vice president," she said. "I've always looked forward to it. It's exciting to be here."
Secretary: Odile Reid
Odile, 16, served as this year's junior class secretary and will serve in that capacity for the entire student body next year.
"This year was my first year in leadership, and I really enjoyed it," she said. "I wanted to be a part of it next year."
Treasurer: Cheena Amaranto
Cheena, 16, served as sophomore class treasurer before being elected to the same position for the student body.
"I get to budget fundraising events and dances and other school events," she said. "I love being involved in school."
Historian: Hannah Novak
Hannah, 16, has been involved in student leadership for three years, and is excited about her position as student body historian.
"I've wanted to be historian since my freshman year," she said. "I like taking pictures, and I like scrapbooking."
School board representative: Mariah Whitcome
Mariah, 16, was her freshman class president and will serve next year as the student body school board representative.
"I'm really interested in the school board and stuff like that because I want to be a teacher when I'm older," she said. "I'm excited about going to the meetings."
Public relations officer: Lydia Lopez
Lydia, 16, was her freshman class vice president and is eager to take the reins as student body public relations officer. She hopes to get the community to support school programs other than just athletics - such as the arts.
"Getting involved with the public could help raise school spirit, and that's something I really want to do," she said.
