by Alanis Castillo
The Macaulay Honors Scholars Council (MSC) is the heart of student representation and engagement within the Macaulay Honors College community. With four representatives from each Macaulay campus—Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College, College of Staten Island, Hunter College, John Jay College, Lehman College, and Queens College—the council works to foster connections through events, initiatives, and student outreach.
For new students unfamiliar with the council, it serves as a platform for addressing student concerns, organizing activities, and building the collaborative environment that defines Macaulay.
I spoke with the eight representatives from the Class of 2028 to learn more about their experience with the Scholars Council. Here’s what they had to say.
Why They Joined the Council
Our reps have big motivations: a passion for leadership, a drive to make a difference, and to connect with peers and represent their cohort. “I really just loved the planning, organizing aspect of it, bringing fun community to my school. So something that I really wanted to continue here,” says Annamarie Dixon from Brooklyn College, who was president of her high school’s National Honor Society.
For Zoe George at John Jay, joining MSC meant “being that proper bridge between administration and the student body—being present, being active, and hearing what other people want or issues they want to solve.”
Some of our reps saw joining the council as a way to not only grow into their leadership roles, but to overcome past limitations. “I wanted to step out of my comfort zone,” says Ashlin Davila from Lehman College. “I used to be a very quiet and timid person, which often made my ideas dismissed. I wanted to be a voice for everyone who felt that same way.”
The Selection Process
Becoming a council member isn’t just a sign-up sheet. From interviews and essays, the selection process challenges candidates to step up. “We had to say a speech in front of everybody, and then they would get a Google form and vote on everybody,” says Gabriella Rosales from CSI, who found that running for MSC helped her “come out of my shell, be more comfortable with speaking in front of others, and connect with people of different ages.”
Alongside finding the election process a chance to grow personally, reps also approached it as an opportunity for creativity and connection. “I had this wild campaign—logo, website, reels, posts, all that,” says Eshaal Ubaid from Hunter College. “It became this huge creative project for me, and even when I won, it was sort of difficult to say goodbye to it all. I met so many friends over it. I can’t count the number of times someone asked, ‘Hey, are you the person making the campaign videos?’”
Life as an MSC Rep
Balancing school, social life, and council duties is no small feat, but our freshmen reps are thriving. “Whenever I need advice for classes, they’ll provide me with resources… upperclassmen that can help you—they were in the same position as you,” says Alif Yaa Khan from Queens College. “They know exactly what you’re going through and assist you along the way. You just need to talk to them.” Karuna Aikawa from City College didn’t expect to be “enjoying everything…meeting new people and making all these connections—not just at my campus, but at the other campuses as well.”
Beyond support, reps appreciate Macaulay’s unique perks: personalized attention, a close-knit community, and endless opportunities for growth. “You’re not only a scholar on your own campus, but you’re also a scholar here,” says Cindy Li from Baruch, adding that “just having that personalized advisement and all that is really beneficial.”
As new students look for ways to get involved, the Scholars Council offers both a platform for student advocacy and a way to build lasting connections across the Macaulay network. For those interested in joining or learning more about the council, stay tuned for upcoming events designed to enhance your Macaulay experience.
