Mount Vernon is committed to fostering student-led change by creating an environment where students can make a significant impact on the learning experience.
Through the Upper School Prefect System, students have been serving the School since 2009. This unique form of student leadership empowers juniors and seniors chosen for their high character, exceptional integrity and commitment to Mount Vernon’s mission and core values.
Each year, students submit an application and are invited to interview for specific roles to represent student voices, innovate the MV learning experience, and ultimately enact change.
Positions include: Head Prefect, Ambassador Prefect, Outreach Prefect, Student Life & Culture Prefect, Community Prefect, Outreach Prefect, Wellness & Spiritual Life Prefect, Sustainability Prefect, and Academic Prefect.

The first responsibility for this year’s Junior Prefect team was to meet with Dean of Student Life David Ayers to participate in a Leadership Workshop where they established norms, and brainstormed the ways in which they could make an impact this school year.

- Jalen Hagans and Olivia Boissymaty, both in the Class of 2027, want to seek more ways to connect Grade 8 to the Upper School and Grade 5 to Middle School.
- Molly Baynton and Phia Calvo, also in the Class of 2027, want to develop more social events within their grade to support bonding, collaborating, and team building.

- Grade 8 student, Charlie Copeland shares, “I came up with the Buddy Bench, which are benches that can be placed on both campuses in case someone is feeling lonely, they can sit on the bench sort of as a signal that they could use some company.
- I also proposed a fun game we can play on campus. A bunch of golden shoes can be placed around the School. When students find them, they have the option of presenting information to someone at School. For example, kids can present something in chapel, or at lunch, or during morning announcements.”

