Our Vision
We, Nathan and Daniel, are running for Sophomore Caucus because we believe in making sophomore year better—not just for ourselves or our friends, but for every student in our grade, and for the sophomores who will follow us. We know that high school can be overwhelming, confusing, and stressful—especially when information is unclear, systems are unfair, or students feel unheard. That’s why our campaign is rooted in one simple idea: you deserve to be represented by people who work hard, who care, and who listen.
We recognize that Sophomore Caucus elections can sometimes feel like a popularity contest. But we’re not in this for the title or recognition—we’re in it because we’re ready to do the work. We’re committed to being transparent, approachable, and proactive. We believe that the best ideas often come from conversations in the hallway, messages from classmates, or suggestions that might otherwise go unnoticed. That’s why we’ll prioritize opening more channels for student input, like our Digital Suggestions Box and opinion polls, so every student can have a voice in what our caucus does.
We also understand the frustrations that many students faced this year with AP selection and unclear course requirements. We believe in fairness and merit-based opportunities, not random or confusing systems. That’s why we will advocate for greater transparency in how classes are assigned and more communication between departments and students.
But representation is more than just policy. It’s also about making sure sophomore year is filled with meaningful, exciting, and supportive experiences. From hosting study cram sessions before big exams, to throwing fun and inclusive events like our Lunar New Year Festival and End-of-Year Celebration, we want to create opportunities for connection, joy, and class spirit. We’ll also be updating students through a centralized Instagram account and website to make sure no one misses important deadlines or chances to get involved.
This isn’t just about now—it’s about leaving things better than we found them. Our goal is to build a caucus that doesn’t just speak for sophomores, but works with them. We want to serve our class with dedication, creativity, and a genuine desire to make a difference. Together, we can make this year more transparent, more fair, and more fun.
Together, we hope you’ll give us the chance to prove what real student leadership looks like.
Meet The Team
Co-President Candidates:
Nathaniel Lee
Hi, I’m Nathan Lee. I’m a rising sophomore and play Stuyvesant Football and Baseball. You’ll also find me hooping at the BMCC courts after school. I write for Spectator Sports and love going to Stuyvesant’s sightshare meetings; a club that helps the visually impaired. I’m intent on improving sophomore year and listening to all of your opinions. All of us here are trying to make sure that your voice is heard, and that our graduating class can make a lasting impact on sophomore year. Make sure to say hi if you see me in the hallway.
Daniel Li
Hi! I’m Daniel, a rising sophomore, just like you guys. I’m on the Freshman Caucus Finance team and the boys varsity volleyball team! I spend a lot of my free time touching grass 😮 and reading up on academic opportunities. I’m running for sophomore caucus with Nathan because we both share the same values: that you guys deserve better. Currently, not enough is being done for the class of ‘28 in many aspects, such as community, events, and policies to improve our student experience. So, we’re running to change that! Vote for us on 6/16!!!
Campaign Managers:
Kirill Vedler
Hey guys! My name is Kirill, and I'm very excited to campaign for Daniel and Nathan! Some things you should know about me are that I'm on the boys’ varsity volleyball team and that I'm into taking care of myself emotionally and physically. I also enjoy cooking for my family and friends. I also enjoy helping people out no matter what, even if it's just listening to them, or helping them do something, I'll be there. Don't forget to vote for Daniel and Nathan on 6/15 for Sophomore Caucus!!!
Joni Hoxha
Hi, I’m Joni Hoxha. I was born in Kosovo and moved to the United States when I was eight years old, settling first in Texas. Growing up in a new country shaped much of who I am today. I’ve developed a strong interest in the IT field and am working toward building a career in technology. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, which not only help me relax but also fuel my curiosity about how digital systems work. Looking ahead, I hope to gain the skills and experience necessary to start my own IT business one day, combining my passion for technology with the drive to create something of my own. I'm excited to be serving as a campaign manager for Daniel Li and Nathan Lee, and I look forward to learning valuable lessons about leadership, organization, and teamwork as well as helping to make sophomore year an amazing experience for all sophomores to come.
Caelyn Dar
Hi, I’m Caelyn Dar. I was born in San Francisco, California but I moved to New York when I was 2 years old. Sandra Oh even blessed me with her touch as a baby. Right now, I play on girls varsity volleyball at Stuy, but I also play for NYC Juniors outside of school. I like to watch TikTok in my free time or FaceTime with my friends. I love meeting new people as well, despite being a homebody. I am really excited to be a campaign manager for Nathan and Daniel, because I have seen firsthand how committed they are to helping others. Not only are they extremely organized and creative as leaders, they are also easy to talk to and will always be there for the student body. Please vote for them on 6/15 for your Sophomore Caucus Presidents!
Andre Liu
Hi guys, I’m Andre and I’m super excited to be working with Nathan and Daniel to change sophomore year for all of you! In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball with Nathan and our other friends, or eating food with them too. I decided to help out Nathan and Daniel in particular because I genuinely believe they care the most about making a difference in the high school lives of all of us. Whether it's organizing events that bring people together, advocating for academic resources, or just making sure every student feels included and heard, I want our sophomore year to be more than just a step between freshman and junior year. With Nathan, Daniel, and the rest of the team, I’m committed to creating a more connected, supportive, and vibrant sophomore experience for everyone.
Maurya Patel
Hi guys, I’m Maurya! I was born and raised in India and moved here when I was five. I’m a huge fan of sports and will play anything anytime. I’m currently in the Stuyvesant Cricket team and I love being on the field. I’m also a vegetarian (this doesn’t mean I’m vegan though) and I love to eat 24/7. I want to campaign for Nathan and Daniel because they are highly motivated and want the best time not just for our sophomore year but the upcoming generations. We want everyone’s voice to be heard and make Stuy less chaotic for all of us. If you're looking for someone who will listen to you, take action, and bring positive energy to the grade, vote for Nathan and Daniel!!
Policies & Events
Here are some of our planned policies and events that would take place if we took office! Mind you, these aren't all of them, and if you want to see all of them, scroll down and clilck the button labeled "Platform Document."
Policies
Bathroom Fix-Up
We know that many people are FED UP with the bathrooms. The boys bathrooms have urinals mere centimeters away from each other, and many bathrooms are either missing or have broken paper towel dispensers. In all honesty, we find it ridiculous that such a simple problem hasn’t had a simple solution implemented yet. We will have new dividers between the boys bathroom urinals and add new paper towel dispensers wherever they are necessary.
Sophomore Updates Instagram Account & Website
Sophomore Updates Instagram Account
We know that half of you guys DON’T check your emails enough, and even if you are reminded, you still miss one or two. However, we know that a lot of you spend WAY too much time on Instagram. So, we’re proposing the most logical solution: An Instagram account that reposts the important and relevant information from emails for you guys to see!
Sophomore Caucus Website
On top of an Instagram account, we want to provide more, in depth information for those who are interested. If one of you is interested in something you saw on the Instagram account, you can come to the website to learn more!
Express Bus Service Payments
All of us have to get to school, and some of us live very far away. Student OMNY cards help out a lot of people to cover their commute fares, but are limited in terms of covering costs. For certain students who live very far, an express bus would be a far superior option to a normal one, or an SBS bus. However, OMNY cards don’t cover the full fare. The student OMNY cards only cover $2.90, while express buses cost $7. We believe this is unfair to students who live very far away, and are already disadvantaged by their long commute. Having to pay more to get to school faster is unacceptable, and we believe this needs to come to an end. Thus, we will advocate for OMNY cards that cover express bus fares as well, or have a form similar to the monthly student LIRR pass that is currently offered to students.
Sophomore Suggestions Box (Digital)
You guys, being Stuy students, are some of the smartest kids in the city! Therefore, we think it would be a waste to leave all your ideas unused. Our solution to this is a way for you guys to submit ideas to us through the Sophomore Suggestions Box!
Events
Midterm/Finals/Regents/PSAT/AP Cram Sessions
You guys LOVE to cram. We know almost none of you guys actually STUDY, you just wait till a day or two before to shove as much information into your head until it just explodes. So, why not do it with friends? We will host cram sessions for larger exams in every topic, with prepared review slideshows and material to cover the exam’s topic. Don’t cram alone, let’s cram together!
Sophomore Opinion Polls
When we have an idea and are unsure of it, we will ask you! After all, our job is to make your experience as a sophomore better, so your input is the most valuable. A sophomore opinion poll is a poll that we would send out to the sophomore body to vote on whether they would be interested in a policy or event that may take place based on the outcome of the poll.
End-of-Year Sophomore Party
At the end of Sophomore year, we’ll all definitely have grown and developed in our own unique ways. However, we’re sure that all of you will still be excited for a party! Since the end of sophomore year is right before it gets HEAVY in junior year, we want to give you guys a great experience at the end of the year. In the party, we would include things like picture booths, music, superlative awards, some fun activities, and a whole lotta snacks. Don’t worry, if you elect us, this won’t be a party you forget.
Fundraisers
Events we would hold to generate funds to conduct our planned policies and events. Don't worry, our we'll make our fundraisers fun! If you want to know what the specific fundraisers are, click on the "Platform Document" button for more information.
One Thing to Remember
These policies and events are just a starting point — a reflection of what we think would improve sophomore year. But we know that you have ideas, concerns, and visions too. We’re here to listen, to advocate, and to act. We’re not just here to lead — we’re here to serve. So please: allow us to serve you guys, the amazing class of ‘28.