Windermere High SGA earns national recognition

The Windermere High School Student Government Association has been named a 2025 National Gold Council of Excellence.

The award recognizes outstanding student leadership, service and community involvement.

The National Gold Council of Excellence Award, presented by the National Association of Student Councils and supported by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, highlights the best of what student governments can accomplish when they are empowered to lead. According to the NASC, the award celebrates student councils that meet high standards and show evidence of student service, leadership, voice and engagement.

The recognition reflects a year of hard work and dedication by the students and their adviser, Evan Brengel. The SGA not only met the national criteria — which includes having a written constitution, holding regular meetings, running democratic elections and leading service activities — but also exceeded expectations through impactful projects. Windermere’s SGA operates under three guiding principles: school spirit, student service and student voice.

“Simply put, pride,” Brengel said. “I am a believer in the limitless potential of our children, and they prove me right every time, year after year. This is a culmination of their hard work and efforts.”

Barbara Frota, a senior and SGA president, has played a pivotal role in leading the organization to national recognition. Known for her dedication, resilience and ability to unite a large and diverse group of students, Frota guided the SGA through a year marked by major accomplishments — from the opening of the on-campus stadium to record-breaking fund-raising efforts.

“Personally, it meant a lot to me,” Frota said of the award. “Much of what we do happens behind the scenes and often goes unnoticed or unrecognized. Being president of an organization this large comes with a lot of pressure, so seeing all our hard work and effort acknowledged was incredibly rewarding.”

Earning the award is a yearlong process that requires documentation in categories such as civic engagement, fundraising, school improvement and democratic structure. Historian Nathan Dandeneau, a junior, was responsible for compiling the portfolio with help from the officer team. A formal letter of support from Principal Andrew Leftakis also accompanied the application.

Hailey Rujak, a four-year SGA member and current committee head, has seen how student leadership can shape a campus.

“Under Mr. Brengel’s leadership, we worked in small groups and really looked into the details of how to document everything,” Rujak said. “My job as a committee head was to not only supervise all four of our projects but (also) to make sure they were being documented accurately to be submitted for the national application.”

This school year featured several initiatives the SGA spearheaded, including raising more than $90,000 through its annual dance marathon to support Children’s Miracle Network and organizing community events such as Truck or Treat, Windermere Wonderland and a new Spring Egg Hunt.

This year also marked a milestone victory for the SGA’s long-term advocacy: the school’s stadium finally was moved to the Windermere campus. Brengel said the relocation was the result of years of students speaking at local meetings and working with school administrators.

Smaller SGA committees also made an impact. The Outreach and Leadership Development group created “Campus Echo,” a TV segment that shares student-submitted concerns and SGA-led follow-ups with the administration.

“Some (events are) big and some small but each as impactful and important as the others,” Brengel said. “Our Outreach and Leadership Development team in particular soared.”

“Windermere SGA has a wide variety of projects and events we do here that is unlike any other school,” Rujak said. “From our committee projects to our community events like Truck or Treat, it’s truly a special group of hardworking students that make Windermere stand out. I got to know so many new people and see a wide variety of art at Dance Marathon that my peers created. It was amazing to see so many people supporting Dance Marathon’s cause.”

NASSP CEO Ronn Nozoe praised the Windermere SGA for its accomplishment.

“The student council at Windermere High just pulled off something extraordinary ... proving that when young people are given the chance to lead, they turn their vision into real-world impact,” he said.

Brengel credits Leftakis and Orange County Public Schools for their support.

 “Mr. Leftakis routinely seeks student input on school initiatives and treats them like equal partners,” he said. “Even when something doesn’t go their way, he explains his reasoning and respects their perspectives.”