On September 29th, Trustee James L. Alexandre ’75 announced during his chapel talk the addition of a new member in the board of trustees. Olivia Zitkus ’16, the first-ever female Student Government Association (SGA) president, became the youngest member to be serving on the board.

“We are delighted to have Olivia join the board of trustees and increase the number of women on the board to five, an area of emphasis for the board,” Headmaster Zachary Lehman said. “I know she will be an excellent member of the board.”

Zitkus will be serving as a term trustee on the board. The role must be filled by an alumnus that graduated from Hill in the past 15 years. The candidate is to be selected by the full board of trustees through the recommendation of the Governance Committee.

“I do hope that students and faculty take note of the board’s initiative and forward-thinking in my appointment,” Zitkus wrote in an email. “Being such a young trustee is actually not unprecedented, but it should certainly excite the school that such a diversely talented group of professional and caring alumni are excited to bring aboard a younger, local voice and one of the next generations of Hill alumni… and not to mention, another woman!”

Even though a term trustee only serves on a renewable three-year term instead of the regular five years other members serve, she or he has an equal involvement and an equal vote on the board.

“Trustees are typically alumni or parents who have a strong affinity for the school, and want to see it thrive and grow,” Chairman of Board of Trustees Preston Athey ’67, wrote in an email. “Olivia had shown during her time as a student that she possessed that quality.”

During her time at Hill, Zitkus held numerous leadership positions, the most notable being the president of the Student Government Association. She was also Co-President of Hill Trebles.

Zitkus is currently a Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and double majors in Classical Latin and Greek and in Economics.

“The board of trustees was seeking a young alumna to provide a current student perspective on the school,” Lehman said. “Olivia was an outstanding student at Hill, an excellent SGA president, and well admired by students and faculty.”

The board hopes Zitkus will bring a new perspective to the table as the most recent Hill graduate to be elected. She is also the only member who was a student during Lehman’s tenure as headmaster.

“We will value her input on matters relating to student life and the preparedness of Hill Alumni today for their college experience,” said Andrew Soussloff, Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees.

Zitkus’ impact on the student body can be seen in the high opinion that not only the trustees, but also her classmates, have of her, even after graduation.

“Olivia is definitely the best person for this specific role,” Youngweon Lee ’16, a past classmate of Zitkus said. “I have no doubt she’ll make great things happen.”

The board of trustees is responsible for the organization of the school’s resources, especially regarding to major policy or financial decisions.

The board is also responsible in hiring and supervising the headmaster.

One of the board’s primary focuses for the school currently is the renovation of the Dining Hall this upcoming summer of 2018.

“The board works hand in hand with Mr. Lehman and me, along with the other senior leadership members of Hill to execute on plans and action,” wrote Christian Sockel, assistant headmaster for advancement.