Rising junior Uma Hardeo will enter the 2025-2026 school year as Student Union treasurer after this year’s election, running unopposed. As an active member of the class of 2027, Uma shared her goals and plans for the upcoming year.
Uma first started her journey in the Student Union after being a grade leader in her freshman year. She then served as executive-at-large in her sophomore year.
Uma told The Classic her plans for the upcoming school year. She said “I want to make fundraising requests more timely and organized … I want to also try to get scholarship funds, as well as PTA funds…to be able to lower the costs of certain things in the school like textbooks.” She said she also wants to reach out and work on partnering with organizations that donate resources to schools.
She also mentioned what made her go into this role in the first place. She said, “Ms. Baranoff and Mr. Gelbman definitely helped me with realizing that I wanted to enter the treasurer role. It may have seemed unexpected that I didn’t run for class president, but once I was an executive, I was working closely with the treasurer, and I was taking charge of a lot of systems involving money.”
Social Studies teacher and Senior Advisor Blayne Gelbman, said that he has seen Uma in action since her freshman year. “She really took over and managed the freshman class last year, like that was a clear indication that we have someone really good in our hands. [As a sophomore], she worked really hard and has become an awesome asset in this organization.”
He then described the most memorable moment that was important for him to see Uma’s character. He said, “One of the biggest things I remember is during last year’s Holi event, the kids with powder turned Room 115 into a disaster, and I came and shut the whole thing down, and walked out the room. Then she assertively, responsibly, and without being mean, created within the group of kids participating a sense of expectations and organized them to clean up that room. And that was the first time I saw that this person was a leader and people respect her.”
Uma also shared her insight on the Holi incident, saying “It was an unexpected issue that happened and I really wanted it [the Holi event] to still go smoothly without ending the event with bad memories. So I resolved the issue best I could on my own and in a calm manner”
Social Studies teacher and Coordinator of Student Activities Jaime Baranoff has also worked closely with Uma. She said, “[Uma] takes everything in stride. Last year she organized the Holi event all on her own and there were dance performers, food, and throwing of powder.”
Ms. Baranoff also said, “She’s a really approachable leader and is kind and gentle while being assertive when she needs to be.”
Uma’s manager for her treasurer campaign, rising junior Beyonce Boahen, described her experience working with Uma to produce content. She said, “Even though she wasn’t running against anybody, she still made the effort to have engaging content to really inform people why she should be trusted as the treasurer, even though she didn’t necessarily have to.”
During his term as Freshmen-Sophomore class Co-President, incoming SU Club Liaison Aki Benjamin has worked closely alongside Uma in the SU. He said, “She’s a really effective person and could establish contingency plans. She’s been working with our current treasurer this year, and she will be very knowledgeable, entering next year with a lot of experience.”
Uma’s advice to underclassmen and anyone wanting to get involved: “If you’re thinking about getting involved in the Student Union, do it. You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room or already know everything. What really matters is that you care about our school and want to make it better.”
