Elected to Inspire: Ben Lee and Katherine Zhou ’27 Lead Student Council

Nationally, Election Day may be months away, but at Choate Rosemary Hall, it has already come and gone.

On February 18, 2026, Ben Lee ’27 and Katherine Zhou ’27 were announced as the next President and Vice President of the School's Student Council, respectively. Entering their final year at Choate, Lee and Zhou will serve as the student body's lead representatives, presenting the student body's collective opinions and expressing their peers' concerns to administrators and other key stakeholders. Both possess unique perspectives and life experiences, but share a common desire to make a positive impact on campus as they step into their new roles.

"At my core, I'm driven by a deep need to make a positive impact, not in a small, quiet way, but in a way that actually reaches people and changes things for the better. When I looked at Student Council, I saw exactly the kind of platform that could do that," Zhou explained.

"The main motivation for running for Student Council President came from my passion to give back to the community that has welcomed me, and from the lessons I learned while attending boarding school as an international student for 6 years," Lee added.

Born and raised in South Korea, coming to the United States was not part of his plan as a kid. However, his parents' and his search for new and challenging educational opportunities brought him to Washington, Conn., where he attended Rumsey Hall. There, he adjusted to a new language, culture, people, food, and much more. Admittedly, it was difficult, but as he explained, "the community was so warm and welcoming." After graduating from Rumsey Hall, the soon-to-be rising sixth former made the trek southeast to Choate. Much to his liking, his new school offered the same thing: a warm welcome.

"I also found out that our community is full of talented and inspiring people. Every day was a learning experience, and every person I talked to taught me something," he said. "As I spend more days at Choate, talking to new people and experiencing new things, my love for this community has only grown. I thought running for the Student Council could give me an opportunity to serve the School to the fullest potential."

Lee found out that he would have the opportunity he craved while preparing for a busy afternoon of filming sports games around campus. Getting himself together for the remainder of his day, he was choosing songs on Spotify when he received an email from Dr. Mary D. Roca announcing the results of the election.

"I first called my parents back in Korea, who were surprisingly awake. They were so happy for me. They told me how proud they were of me, and how I should be too. They have watched my journey from struggling in ESL class to becoming the School leader," he celebrated. "They also emphasized how humble and grateful I should be, and never forget the people and community who have helped me get to where I am today."

Lee wasn't the only person pleased to receive an email with the Student Council election results. As he was celebrating in his dorm room, Zhou was walking out of the Hill House Dining Hall, heading toward the Andrew Mellon Library, when it happened. Thinking about the work she needed to get done that particular afternoon, her thoughts about homework, extracurricular activities, and other commitments were put to the side for a moment as she received the news.

"Upon seeing the congratulations, I smiled," she said. "Surprisingly, what stayed with me most wasn’t the result itself. It was the wave of support that followed. Messages, conversations, people going out of their way to say something kind or encouraging---even people I had never spoken to before. That part caught me off guard. I hadn’t expected that level of support, and it meant more than I can really put into words."

Coming to Choate as a fifth former from Ann Arbor Huron High School, Zhou, like Lee, has made an impact in a short time. Whether it's advancing to the finals of the Pratt-Packard Declamation Contest or participating in the Symphony Orchestra, she continues to find ways to express her brilliance while being an asset to the community. Now, as Choate's Student Council Vice President, she will work alongside Ben to leave the School in an even better place than she found it.

"When I gave my speech, I set a certain standard, not just for what I hoped to do, but for how seriously I take this role. And I want to live up to that fully and consistently," she said. "If it’s February 2027 and people can look back and say that the changes we worked on made a real difference---that things improved in ways that were noticeable, useful, and lasting---that would mean everything to me."

Zhou and Lee will hit the ground running this spring, taking over for Student Council President Zaki Shamsi ’26 and Student Council Vice President Max Schoelkopf ’26.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Katherine Zhou ’27

Editorial Credit: Ryan Shepard '14 is the Manager of Editorial Services at Choate Rosemary Hall.