OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured from left to right: Fredonia’s outgoing Student Representatives on the Board of Education, Katherine Fortna and Neshwan Arif, met with the new Student Representatives, Henry Conroy and Norrah Waterman, after a recent Board meeting.

Days after walking the King Concert Hall stage to officially graduate from Fredonia High School, Neshwan Arif and Katherine Fortna were back in their old school library.

Most young men and women would not volunteer to spend one of their first days of summer at a Board of Education meeting, but Arif and Fortna are anything but the norm. Two of Fredonia’s most accomplished graduates this year, Arif and Fortna made good on a promise to mentor the next members of Fredonia High School to follow in their footsteps as Student Representatives on the Board of Education. They took their seats in the audience at the latest Board meeting, as Henry Conroy and Norrah Waterman filled the open seats on the Board as the district’s new Student Representatives.

Conroy and Waterman spent their first Wednesday evening as Fredonia seniors in their new seats on the Board, rather than outdoors in a heat advisory on the first day of July. They were joined by the newly elected members of the Board, Marieanne Fabiano and Keana Sherlock.

Conroy and Waterman were chosen from a group of applicants by a small interview committee that included High School Principal Ron Tonelli. He commended both of the representatives for the bravery they showed to pursue the position.

Waterman joined the Board to give her fellow students a person who will vocalize their opinions about the district, especially those who do not feel comfortable speaking up for themselves. As a varsity cheerleader for both the football and basketball teams, Waterman is not afraid of the spotlight and making her voice heard.

Waterman says her biggest passions are helping others and the environment. She fuels those passions by mentoring students at the younger level of cheerleading at Fredonia, while also serving as a member of the school’s Gardening Club and Environmental Club. She also participates in travel soccer outside of school.

Like Waterman, Conroy also joined the Board to represent his fellow classmates. Conroy saw joining the Board as an opportunity for personal growth to “see how it works in live action” as a member himself.

“I also value leadership,” Conroy said, with an eye on a career in education and leadership in the future. “Early engagement, I think, will be a good way to help me figure things out.”

Conroy is a student-athlete with the varsity baseball team and the Unified bowling team. He is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and the National Honor Society, and participates in the Model United Nations Club, among others. As a student, Conroy is most passionate about history and government.

Once their first Board meeting as Student Representatives concluded, Conroy and Waterman met with Arif and Fortna to learn the ins and outs of the role. Spending the evening learning from Arif, who once presented his solar energy research at a NASA conference, and Fortna, the Class of 2026 Salutatorian bound for Cornell University this fall, made giving up a few hours of summer worth their time.