2019-2020 ESSO Board Turns Over
Seniors Grace Gray and Jenny Yang have passed on their Exeter Student Service Organization (ESSO) co-presidency to uppers Dawson Byrd and Ryan Xie, who will lead the Academy in another exciting year of community service.
The new board also consists of upper Penny Brant and lower Caroline Luff as Directors of Marketing and Communications, lower Anneliese Cowles as the Off-Campus Club Coordinator, lower Ellie Griffin as the On-Campus Club Coordinator and uppers Nana Esi Donkor and Ben Holderness as the Children’s Club Coordinators.
Gray said the previous two ESSO boards focused largely on increasing community participation and expanding the organization’s reach. The 2017-18 board amplified efforts to serve families of varying socioeconomic backgrounds along the Seacoast, while this year’s board partnered with the Exeter town government.
The new board plans to continue this initiative. “By doing so, we will hopefully get more participation from local businesses, people from nearby towns and students,” Luff said.
Cowles also hopes to collaborate with service organizations beyond Exeter. “This year, I would really like to see stronger connections made with EHS (Exeter High School) by connecting with their service club,” she said.
ESSO is an integral part of the Exeter experience for many, including Donkor, who expressed that “participating truly helped me find my place in our community.” In her role, Donkor hopes to “promote student engagement by creating the same welcoming environment that made my experience so positive in every ESSO club.”
In addition to expanding outreach efforts, Xie hopes to continue other initiatives from previous ESSO boards, such as dorm service. Griffin also hopes to plan fundraisers and awareness events that will “elicit change” and increase community involvement.
Luff emphasized the importance of service work in an environment as academically-oriented and fast-paced as Exeter. “A lot of Exeter is focused around individual accomplishments, so it’s really important to focus on people other than yourself … and work as a team,” she said.
Griffin agreed, adding that “at Exeter, the most meaningful way for us to make an impact is through ESSO.”
Gray noted a similar pride in helping others that inspired her time on the board. “I see community service as the ultimate privilege. It allows everyone… to reach into the world around us and form personal connections.”
Xie affirmed his faith in the new board and their potential to lead the Exeter community in its non sibi mission. “We have a great group, and I know we can get a lot done this year,” he said.