A New Generation of Raider Commanders

Cassidee Jackson, Opinion Editor|April 1, 2022

  • Current RCs interviewed potential RCs on March 23 during Raider Time and deliberated over their choices during Wellness. Photo by Elizabeth Smith.

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  • Seniors Jessie Zinn, Cailee Jackson, Emma Gartland and Maggie Sole (left to right) were selected as RC Captains at the beginning of the year. Photo by Cassidee Jackson.

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  • Over 150 rising juniors and seniors gathered in the cafeteria for the Raider Commander (RC) interest meeting on March 3. Photo by Cassidee Jackson.

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Raider Commanders (RCs) are juniors and seniors who represent school culture and Raider values as peer mentors. As student leaders, Raider Commanders not only volunteer with school-wide events but also lead their own organizations, ranging from sports teams to community service clubs. On March 23, junior RCs, senior RCs and RC Captains interviewed 150 rising juniors and seniors interested in the program. 

 

Along with the counseling department, these RCs have the difficult job to narrow down this deserving applicant pool to an estimated 50-70 Raider Commanders. This process included months of prior preparation and an interview prep session. Seniors Emma Gartland, Cailee Jackson, Maggie Sole and Jessie Zinn were the four RC Captains that helped organize the four interview sessions. 

 

Interviews were conducted on Wednesday, March 23, during Raider Time, with makeup interviews on Friday, March 25. Rising juniors and seniors rotated between five groups for 10 minutes each. The interview groups were focused on the key traits and duties of the Raider Commander program. Each group was led by a RC Captain and fellow junior and senior RCs. 

 

To RC Captain Gartland, the purpose of Raider Commanders is to “[make] everybody comfortable at school and [try] to make the school as safe of a place as possible, especially for all the new kids and the freshmen.”  As for the interview process, it was “a little bit scary… because usually, it’s most people’s first interview… but it’s a pretty good representation of the program.” To Gartland, great qualities for Raider Commanders include having “a strong voice, empathy, awareness of other people and how they are.”

 

Overall, the RC program has certainly been a success and an integral part of many freshman’s experiences. RCs play a significant role in welcoming incoming classes through Raider Rush and Rise Up Raiders, as well as introducing new 10th and 11th graders to North through the New Student Orientation. RCs continue to help serve North by participating in monthly Raider Times with their freshman classes and by being leaders in their student organizations.

 

Decisions for the Raider Commander program will be emailed to interviewees by April 1 at 4:00 pm.