It must run in the family
August 20, 2008
By Laura Geggel
ASB President takes over reigns from sister
Ben and Cailee Olson take a moment from celebrating Cailee’s graduation from Mount Si High School in 2008. The siblings have served Mount Si High School as ASB President for two consecutive years. Photo by Laura Geggel
The Olsons are keeping the coveted position of Associated Student Body president in the family.Cailee Olson served Mount Si High School her senior year in 2007-08 and her younger brother Ben will be taking over as president this year.
The president has no easy task. ASB leaders help lead food drives, fundraisers and community awareness projects and organize assemblies and events like homecoming and the auction.
“Our ASB calendar runs 13 months,” said ASB teacher Charlie Kinnune. “It’s nonstop.”
Both siblings have a history of running for public office. The road began in a bumpy way for Cailee – who lost her first campaign in eighth grade – but she bounced back her sophomore year and served as class treasurer.
Campaigning is “getting people to know who you are,” Cailee said.
As an officer, Cailee also brought Rachel’s Challenge, a program teaching students about kindness and respect, to Mount Si High School her junior year. She also helped involve classmates in the ‘Think and Drive’ program during prom week.
“I knew I was capable of being president,” Cailee said. “I had learned from my mistakes and knew which things worked.”
Kinnune called Cailee a “bubbly” and big-picture visionary. He described her brother as “more serious” and a real “nuts and bolts” kind of guy.
As president, Cailee attended the National Association of Student Councils in Kansas and learned about an opportunity to bring the Special Olympics to Mount Si High School. After hours of planning, the Washington state Special Olympics came to the high school in April with about 60 athletes and 100 volunteers.
Meanwhile, Ben tried his luck at ASB.
“I saw some of the things she was doing and it looked like fun,” Ben said.
Following in his sister’s footsteps, Ben served as ASB treasurer his sophomore year. During homecoming week that fall, he helped sell wristbands commemorating Tess Sollitto, a 15-year-old who drowned in the Snoqualmie River in 2006. The money collected from the wristbands went to a scholarship fund started by Sollitto’s parents.
Both siblings may enjoy leading their classmates, but their leadership styles vary significantly. Cailee said she “shows them how I think it should be done,” while Ben “gives input and backs away.”
“I’ll step in and help if they need me,” he said. “Sometimes I don’t like the way she does things.”
Cailee shrugged her shoulders.
“We draw personal issues at the door,” she said.
Their father, Craig Olson – associate principal at Mercer Island High School – and mother, Dawn Olson – a teacher at North Bend Elementary – have also taught them a healthy respect for school staff.
“We get along with administrators,” Cailee said.
“We know how hard it is for them,” Ben added.
Kinnune commended the family for its dedication to using education to lead in the community.
“Their mom and dad have been great role models,” Kinnune said. “Cailee and Ben have this idea that they can make their community better; they’re not going to sit back and let somebody else do it or not do it.”
As president, Ben hopes to turn the Special Olympics into an annual Valley event and help organize food drives at football games. College is still on his horizon, and Cailee is already starting her freshman year at Washington State University, where she plans to major in psychology and minor in education.
Kinnune said the Olsons’ leadership may help inspire other students to try ASB.
“Just like you’re president of a business, the buck stops with you,” Kinnune said. “It’s the executive branch of government at Mount Si High School.”
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