SCHOOLS
Digital 4 Good
Boulder Creek senior Tag Herr wins state award for Student Government publicity By Emma Suttell A four-year student government In a world consumed by social memember, Herr has helped lead publicdia and the internet, it can sometimes ity efforts throughout the years. Most be difficult to find the positive amidst recently, he promoted and helped the chaos. design advertisements for Boulder For senior Tag Herr, spreading Creek’s second “Wish Week,” a campositivity on social media is a part paign that raised more than $15,000 of his personal life as well as his acafor Make-A-Wish Arizona. Herr demic career. As student body pubsays although planning large camlicist, Herr runs @bchsjagnation, pus events can be difficult, he loves an Instagram account dedicated to having input on important decisions. informing students about school“I joined StuGo because I like besponsored events. ing behind-the-scenes. I love being This year, Herr has taken the initiathe first to know what is happening at tive to go beyond simply advertising school and getting to give my input,” school events and has crafted several Herr says. “Plus, our adviser, Caitlin series of posts that encourage “World McAndrew, always knows what to do. Kindness Week” and “Wish Week” (a She challenges us to always do more.” fundraiser for Make-A-Wish Arizona As for Herr’s next task? He’s lookand several other special events). ing forward to finding new media In late January, Herr was recogstrategies to boost engagement with nized at the state conference for the Anthem community. As May the Arizona Association of Student Tag Herr hopes to encourage underclassmen to get more involved on campus. gets closer, Herr is working on adCouncils for his work on social me(Photo courtesy Tag Herr) vertisements and campaigns geared dia. A team from the #ICANHELP campaign, a program aimed at targeting ing because I’m only in high school,” Herr at encouraging the community to support the negative online activity, attended the con- says. “(Her bosses) said they would pay some- school in the final stages of the year. “I’m using social media to promote things ference and awarded Herr with the #DIGI- one to do the work I am doing now.” Herr’s work even impressed large tech com- in a big way,” Herr says. “I want everyone to TAL4GOOD award. “Their goal is to ‘delete’ negativity on social pany representatives from Google, Facebook feel included and involved.” Herr is looking forward to pursuing public media,” Herr says. “#ICANHELP first came and Twitter. When given his award, he was to our spirit conference in the fall and talked told that his work could earn him a publicity relations in college and potentially applying about how teenagers at different schools are position at a well-known company. Through- for an internship through the Disney College developing programs to encourage a positive out the week, Herr also manages the social Program. As his senior year comes to a close, Herr media for the award-winning Boulder Creek atmosphere. I knew I wanted that.” Brought onstage in front of thousands of Choir Program. His work has led to hundreds hopes to encourage underclassmen and felother student government members from of ticket sales and recognition from other low StuGo members to get more involved on campus and push themselves to embrace their around the state, Herr was introduced and choir programs in the state. “I like getting to be the face of the program high school experience. presented with the award. He also found that “I want Boulder Creek to be one of those he had received the most nominations out of and being the person that people associate the entire state, several of which came from with it,” Herr says. “I want to make sure that places that everyone looks up to,” Herr says. whenever I speak on behalf of (student gov- “I want everyone to say, ‘Wow, I want my high peers at Boulder Creek. “A woman at the conference shared (my ernment or choir) on social media I am pro- school experience to be just like that.’” work) with her marketing team bosses. They fessional because, in a way, I am the face of Emma Suttel is a senior at Boulder Creek. You can find more of her work at andthenemma.com. were saying that it’s crazy what I’ve been do- the school.”
8
85086 | MARCH 2020
