RUSSELLVILLE - With a little encouragement and a cheerful personality, a shy freshman from High Point bloomed into the student body president at Russellville High School.
"I've always liked to help people," Halie Dampf said.
Serving in this capacity gives her purpose, she said.
"Halie is a very fun, outgoing person to be around," Student Leadership Team member Natalie Benne. "She knows when to have fun and when to be serious."
Even when she had her wisdom teeth pulled and sat the bench for a few volleyball games, Dampf cheered on everyone, Benne recalled.
"She was a trooper," Benne said. "It just goes to show how dedicated she was to the sport and our team."
Former English teachers Kate Lootens and Christina Hess have had a strong influence on Dampf, she said.
"(Lootens) taught you to really open your mind to things you haven't thought about before," she said. "I think that really changed me."
Now, she doesn't know a stranger and will talk to anyone, she said.
"I want to make people feel welcome," Dampf said, especially the new freshmen. "Some kids may have a bad day, if you say "hi' it might make them feel better."
It was Hess who noticed her leadership potential and suggested she interview for the president position.
"It had not crossed my mind until she said something," Dampf said. "I'm very glad she did."
This is the first year for the Student Leadership Team to be fully implemented, following the ideals of the Professional Learning Communities adopted several years ago by faculty and administration in the district.
The team functions in the same way as student council.
"It's been more of a challenge, with new things to do," Dampf said.
Instead of occasional or as-needed meetings of the council, the team meets every two weeks.
And rather than five students from each class elected by popular vote on the first day of school, members of the team must apply and interview for the position.
"It's nice to work with mature students who want to be there," Dampf said
One of the new projects the team implemented was the Teacher of the Month. Selected teachers are recognized with a photo plaque in the main hall.
The Student Leadership Team also has developed theme nights for each home basketball game.
And Principal Chris Mitchell asked the team to develop attendance incentives. What they came up with allows drivers with perfect attendance to leave campus early on Fridays.
As team president, she speaks at assemblies and reads the morning announcements. She also spoke at freshmen orientation and as Mitchell has requested, like at the Veterans Day Assembly.
The greatest change this year may be with Homecoming. In the past, the student council would be involved with a few things.
Now, the team will be in charge of everything, Dampf said.
They'll organize the Homecoming Olympics games and materials, select the daily dress-up themes, and construct the royalty stage backdrop.
"It takes more planning than it looks like," Dampf said.
So far, the Student Leadership Team has proven more organized than student councils of the past, Benne said.
"One of the things I love about Halie is that she has always made it a point to hear everyone's opinion before a group decision is made," Benne said.
Dampf said her leadership style is more of a laidback approach, letting other people take the lead in various aspects of a project.
"It's cool to help other leaders grow," she said. "I know my limits; if I can't handle something, I will ask someone else to be in charge."
As the last half of her senior year closed, Dampf said she realized she would not be around in the next school year.
"But, we're part of something that's really going to work," she said. "We've tried to set a precedent for future years."