Fluvanna County High School student representatives play a special role in helping students’ voices be heard at school board meetings. The 2025 student representatives were announced at the first senior class meeting of the year by Principal Margo Bruce. After interviews, seniors Ethan Ritchey, Rebecca Martin, Arianna Tinsley, and Ashton Wheaton were chosen for the job. Ritchey is the primary student rep for the fall, with Martin as his alternate. Next semester, Tinsley will take over as the primary rep, with Wheaton as her alternate.

Ritchey said he decided to apply for the position because he wanted to get more involved. “I’ve always been interested in politics and helping my community,” he said. “When I heard about the role being available, I thought that this could be my chance to make a name for myself,” he added.

He said that at first, walking into the school board meeting was a bit confusing. “I didn’t know what to expect. The room was mostly empty, and I wasn’t sure where to sit. But the board members were really welcoming, and I felt comfortable pretty quickly,” he said.

As a student rep, Ritchey doesn’t vote on school board policies, but helps by sharing ideas from students and bringing up issues that matter to the student body. “It’s like doing a lot and a little at the same time,” he explained. “I try to find solutions to problems while keeping in mind what will work best for most people.”

For example, he recently suggested allowing car riders to leave a few minutes earlier to help reduce the crowding in the hallways at dismissal.  Ritchey is also working on a project to help make the school more eco-friendly. He noticed that a lot of food goes to waste and that recycling isn’t always done correctly. “I’m planning to introduce better recycling and organic waste disposal systems. I want to teach students what trash goes where, like they do at American University with their recycling bins,” he said.

Even though student reps don’t vote on school board decisions, they still have an important job. They sit with the school board and help share what students care about. “Anyone can suggest or ask about anything to be brought up at the school board meeting,” Ritchey said. “The more feedback we get from students, the better we can help make decisions that are good for everyone,” he said.

Ritchey said that being a student rep has taught him a lot about leadership and listening to others. “It’s all about making sure students feel heard,” he said. “If you have any ideas or concerns, feel free to reach out to me or the other reps. We’re here to listen,” he added.