Get to know your 2025–26 class presidents

By Kate Rose, Staff Writer | September 12, 2025

From left to right: junior class president Sophie Nadkarni, sophomore class president Zachary Po and senior class president Jeronimo Sepulveda Sagaseta. These class presidents were elected last spring.

Meet your class presidents: sophomore Zachary Po, junior Sophie Nadkarni and senior Jeronimo Sepulveda Sagaseta.

This year, three students will spend their time in the ASB room and class council meetings, working meticulously to plan events, fundraisers and how to best engage their classmates.

Sophomore Class President: Zachary Po

One day in Mandarin class, Zachary’s teacher asked students what they could do to improve their Mandarin skills.

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Zachary called for more assignments, homework and cultural representation in the classroom. More homework wasn’t the most popular request among his classmates, but it demonstrated Zachary’s drive to grow by going beyond what’s easy –– a work ethic he carries with him as sophomore class president.

“Zachary is very hardworking and active in class council,” sophomore Andrew Poh, said. “He’s a good role model.”

This fall, Zachary jumped headfirst into managing sophomore and school-wide events. Right now, he’s been brainstorming potential activities with the Sophomore Class Council. One of these is a white-out competition, where students decked out in white get a prize.

“I really want to engage the students by coming up with ideas like this,” Zachary said.

This ambition didn’t begin only when he decided to run for president last spring. He’s been involved in student government since middle school, where he was treasurer at Egan Junior High School.

Outside the classroom, Zachary plays for the varsity water polo team and enjoys watching movies with his friends.

If Zachary had an unlimited budget for a field trip, he said he’d take the entire sophomore class to Japan to see Mount Fuji. But for now, he’ll have to stick with budget-friendly class council meetings and events.

“My goal as president is to make as many sophomores as possible feel more connected to the community and have the best year,” Zachary said.

Junior Class President: Sophie Nadkarni

Every Wednesday and Friday, Sophie spends her evenings at Mathnasium. She works with two to three kids a session, covering any topic from basic arithmetic to calculus. With thorough explanations and practice problems, she helps them leave more confident than when they came in.

“I’ve always been passionate about helping others and making a difference,” Sophie said.

This extends to Los Altos High School, where she has served in class council, a community she’s been a part of since elementary school. Last spring, she took a shot at becoming class president — and she made it.

“I learned how to pitch myself,” she said. “If you want anything, you have to show people you really care about what you’re doing.”

Pitching herself is also important to her other hobby, working on websites. So far, she’s made websites for four small businesses and helped manage their social media.

When she’s not coding in HTML, Sophie loves listening to music. Her favorite artists are Role Model, Lizzy McAlpine and Malcom Todd. She also loves watching “Law and Order.”

“That’s probably my favorite show,” Sophie said. “I like to keep it in the background while I do other stuff.”

That “other stuff” could include making matcha or hanging out with her friends.

“She’s just very out there when it comes to helping people,” junior Ruhi Bhaskar said. “She’s always tutoring people in different subjects.”

“She’s very determined,” Ruhi said. “She will make the school a better place.”

Senior Class President: Jeronimo Sepulveda Sagaseta

On the first Friday of this school year, seniors poured onto the field for Senior Sunrise. Among them was Jeronimo, watching the success of an event he and the Senior Class Council planned and publicized in under a week.

“I think school events are where Jeronimo shines the most,” ASB Adviser Sarah Alvarado said. “He brings this care, friendliness and charisma.”

Jeronimo and Alvarado began working together closely his junior year as Tournaments Commissioner in ASB. Here, he helped plan the rallies, spirit days, and organize tournaments.

“Getting elected president is mainly about people knowing your name,” he said. “I introduced myself to a lot of my classmates and asked them what types of things they’d like to change about the school.”

One of Jeromino’s major influences to pursue leadership is his older brother, Rodrigo Sepulveda Sagaseta ‘23.

“He was class president twice, so I look to him for advice a lot,” Jeronimo said.

Jeronimo also plays soccer — which he has played since he was a kid — and lacrosse on the school teams.

“He likes to get involved,” Alvarado said. “He’s motivated to get others involved, too.”

Jeronimo plans to pursue leadership beyond high school, and said connections and collaboration are things he wants to continue throughout life.

“He’s really just an amazing human being,” Alvarado said. “Being able to work with him, whether that’s as a peer or as a teacher, is an honor.”

About the Contributor

Kate Rose, Staff Writer

The Talon

The Talon

The Talon

Get to know your 2025–26 class presidents

Sophomore Class President: Zachary Po

Junior Class President: Sophie Nadkarni

Senior Class President: Jeronimo Sepulveda Sagaseta

The Talon

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