Equipped with a vision of inclusivity and a passion for meaningful change, junior Joe Maskill steps into his role as Seattle Prep’s new ASB President, ready to transform student life from parking garage pillars to campus culture. Joe Maskill is a junior at Seattle Prep who can be seen performing in theatre, recently had lead role in “Hadestown”, playing on soccer field, or in the classroom. Maskill has been on ASB before but approaches this new chapter of leadership leading by example with values of kindness and authenticity is ready to take on all new challenges and fight for issues that students and faculty face. Acknowledging the limitations of his position, Maskill approaches his presidency with both realism and determination.
Maskill’s goal on ASB is not only to create change within Seattle Prep culture but to solve everyday issues students may face. When he was asked about the first change he wanted to make, he spoke about students who drive and face issues in the parking garage, particularly on the way to school. “I want to start by putting foam padding on the pillars in the garage, so people stop scraping their cars. I’ve had friends pay hundreds of dollars for repairs.”
Other than practical changes, he wants to make lasting impacts on ASB. “I want to integrate more of the student body into having a say in what ASB does. Everyone should feel seen and heard.”
He plans to do this by taking information from all groups, clubs, sports. He explains his time on and off ASB.
“I didn’t get elected sophomore year and that helped me see ASB from the outside. It gave me a new lens to understand what the students want…now I can represent everyone more fairly.”
Maskill spoke passionately about kindness and the importance of equal treatment. Reflecting on personal struggles that shaped his leadership perspective, Maskill opened up about a pivotal experience that transformed how he views acceptance at Seattle Prep. “My hardest challenge in high school was JV Basketball. I got picked on for doing theatre and it crushed my confidence. I ended up lead in the musical and when they saw me succeed, he respected me. I learned to be unapologetically myself-that what is want for everyone at Prep.”
This lesson taught him the importance of creating an environment where everyone can be themselves at Prep. Maskill is convinced that by leading with kindness and acceptance, he will not have to tell people what to do but they will follow.
When asked about the role of ASB he explained, “ASB is the middleman between students and faculty. We do have power—we can advocate for real change” he asserted, emphasizing the critical role student government plays in making Seattle Prep an inclusive and representative place.
