UTHS Student Council Bridges the Virtual Divide

At UT High School, student council members log in from cities across Texas and countries around the globe, united by a common mission to turn an online education into a genuine community experience.

For Nawal Rasheed, the Student Council president living in Islamabad, Pakistan, the journey to leadership began with isolation. "When I first joined UTHS, it was a bit lonely," she recalls. "It was really isolating without having ways to communicate." Now in her senior year, Nawal has made it her mission to ensure other students don't feel that same disconnect.

"Student council gives students a real voice and creates a sense of unity across our virtual campus," explains vice president Vivian Ho, a junior from Cedar Park. "It represents student needs, builds community, and helps make UTHS more engaging and enjoyable for everyone."

The council had its first full year last year. It began the year before, well into the academic year, as students began organizing themselves through unofficial channels, creating a Discord group chat to connect beyond their coursework. Former UTHS history teacher Jeff Bixby recognized the momentum and formalized the student council structure, giving students an official platform to shape their school experience. He invited English teacher Nikki Northcutt to serve as co-sponsor. Since Bixby left the high school, she has remained a co-sponsor along with Learning Specialist Jamie Lynn Jones. Northcutt was pleased with their first full year when students got several projects off the ground, designed and sold tee shirts, and created a Teacher Appreciation webinar. This year the group has grown to include 100 student council members, who are expanding their ambitions to focus on club formation, regular meetups, and enhanced communication channels.

The council operates through four committees, each tackling different aspects of student life. The communications committee led by Student Council Historian Charlie Salcedo, a sophomore from the DFW area, is focused on gathering student feedback through surveys. The achievements committee works on more academic and academic recognition programs. The culture committee organizes events like yearbook projects and teacher appreciation initiatives. And the graduation committee ensures seniors get the celebration they deserve.

"I'm looking forward to helping the communications committee apply the feedback we will get from the survey to improve our school's environment," says Charlie, who manages her coursework efficiently enough to be on track to graduate next year, a year early.

One of the council's most ambitious projects addresses a fundamental challenge of virtual education: how to make major milestones meaningful when students are scattered across time zones. Nawal is championing an initiative to include international students who cannot travel to Texas for the graduation ceremony. 

"I had a couple of friends last year, who couldn't make it to the graduation physically, and I really wanted for them to have something special as well," she explains. The council is exploring options like video presentations or live-streaming participants onto screens during the ceremony.

Cathryn Bermudez, student council secretary from Houston who is leading the Achievements Committee, concentrates on creating opportunities for connection through clubs and activities. A senior with ambitions in journalism and psychology, Cathryn proposed establishing a mental health book club inspired by her volunteer work in Houston. 

"You choose a certain topic, and then you read a book about it, and then you all come together talk about that book, your takeaways, how you can apply it to your life," she explains.

The council is also working on organizing in-person meetups around Texas, with events planned for Austin, Houston, and other cities where student populations cluster, including a prom-type event. "I think people just really want that connection," Cathryn says about the proposed prom. "Even if we only have a venue and chips and music, I feel like people just really want that connection."

With approximately 1,300 students in the Texas diploma program and 150 in the international program, representatives bring vastly different perspectives. "The best part is the teamwork and collaboration," Nawal notes. "It’s really heartwarming. You get to connect with all these brilliant minds and have so many peers working alongside you. You find so many people excited to bring so many ideas."

Charlie appreciates how the council has helped her develop practical skills. "Joining student council is a great way to improve organization skills, leadership abilities, and work ethic," she says. 

For students who chose online education precisely because traditional school didn't fit their needs, the council provides leadership opportunities they might otherwise miss. Sponsor Nikki Northcutt says, “We have five officers, and they're all just natural leaders. Go getters.”

The work isn't without challenges. Time zones complicate meeting schedules, with Nawal sometimes hosting sessions at midnight Pakistan Standard Time. Getting students engaged in committees requires patience and relationship-building. And implementing new ideas requires navigating school policies and budget constraints.

"I believe Student Council can help make UTHS feel like a true community—one where every student feels seen, heard, and included no matter where they are in the world," Vivian says.

Nawal notes that there is no line dividing Texas Diploma and International Diploma program students. “It becomes one whole team, working toward our goals,” she says.

For these student leaders, the work goes beyond planning events or organizing committees. They're pioneering new ways to build belonging in virtual spaces, proving that physical distance doesn't have to mean social disconnection.