On October 30th, GMAHS ran a mock debate for the 2024 Rho Kappa Mock Election. Rho Kappa, the Social Studies Honor Society, decided to hold this election to raise awareness about campaign strategy, electoral college, running mates, endorsements and the importance of voting. By educating high school students about elections, the program guides our girls, who are on the verge of being able to vote, to find their voices, stand up for their beliefs and gain an understanding of the political process. This is timely with the real upcoming U.S. presidential election in November.
Mrs. Battisto, the moderator of Rho Kappa, had her H-period AP Government class campaign for Mr. Fromhold, while her F-period AP Government class supported Mrs. Koffel’s campaign. Mr. Fromhold asked Mr. Baxter to be his running mate, and together they focused on women in STEM, women in sports and how competition builds character. Mrs. Koffel, with Ms. Greenberg by her side, focused on the humanities, arts and how collaboration builds character.
During the week, social media accounts, hype videos and posters were all made for both campaigns to share their strengths and beliefs. Our hallways were filled with colorful flyers on every wall. Clubs, groups and sports teams then had the opportunity to endorse a candidate of their choosing based on their type of organization. For example, German Club chose to endorse Koffel. Groups could also decide to stay neutral. Then, on Wednesday, October 30th, the candidates had a mock debate, where Mr. Fromhold and Mrs. Koffel were asked a series of questions by Gwynedd’s own “David Muir” (Matilda French ’25 and Dana Rietzke ’25). The questions ranged from topics related to their campaign to lighthearted inquiries, such as whether a hot dog is a sandwich. The students got to observe how debates work and how their candidates worked under pressure.
Following the debate, an election was held on October 31st, where students could make their final decisions and vote for the candidate of their choice. Each grade had a different number of electoral votes, and a candidate needed 270 votes to win, just like in the real presidential election. Following the vote, Mrs. Koffel was crowned “Monarch of the Monarchs.”
In conclusion, the GMAHS mock debate and election served as an educational and exciting experience for our students, particularly those nearing voting age. By engaging in this process, they gained insights into campaign strategies, the electoral college, respect in elections and the significance of participating in democracy.