Raquel Dembin
Co-President
Senior
I joined because I believe that mental health is a very important aspect of life and I wanted to both educate and help students on how to better their mental health. In the very stressful environment of high school, I wanted to provide an outlet for students to feel safe and heard.
Interests: I work at a boutique clothing store in Westport called Winged Monkey which I love!
Suhani Aggarwal
Co-PR/Social Media
Junior
I joined TAG to raise awareness regarding mental health and substance abuse, which impact the lives of so many today. Some of my friends have dealt with mental health challenges in the past few years, and I want to be able to better help those struggling by knowing the resources available.
Interests: I love programming! I am a co-Captain of the math team, and the president of the AI Club.
Allison Cancro
Community/School Liaison
Ever since I was way too young, I experienced and have seen people around me suffer with their mental health and drown under the weight of expectations. I have seen people lose themselves to substances and suffer long term. Since elementary school I have always wanted to change this in whatever way I could. I joined TAG in order to help my peers and change the school to create an overall better environment for all students, and to bring awareness to the issues that persist throughout Staples.
Junior
Grace Zhang
Co-Treasurers/Fundraising
I wanted to give my insight on the issues like mental health and substance abuse that are important to me personally to help others who can relate.
Interests: I’m a Staples cheerleader and in my free time I love tutoring and drawing!
Junior
Stella Libman
I joined TAG to be a part of making a difference in our community to educate others and raise awareness about substances and mental health overall. I saw that especially in the past few years, substance abuse has become much more prevalent in our society and I think that starting at the root with mental health can combat both issues simultaneously!
Senior
Freshman Health Class Presentation Coordinator
Lila Boroujerdi
General Board
Sophomore
I wanted to help educate my community about mental health and work towards breaking the stigma surrounding it.
Interests: I am part of Junior State of America (JSA) and the president of Current Events Club. Once a week, I volunteer as a tutor for middle school students in the Norwalk Public School System. I do track and field in the spring as well.
Paige Miller
Co-President
I joined TAG to help raise awareness surrounding topics like mental health and substance abuse in a high school setting. I love the community that TAG brings to Staples and how open the discussion is.
Interests: I am a managing editor for Inklings and play for the Staples tennis team. I am a part of best buddies and NCL. I love animals and have a golden retriever.
Senior
Addison Coughin
Co-PR/Social Media
Junior
I joined TAG because I wanted all students to be aware of the support system accessible to them at staples, either through their peers or a support counselor. It is important that all students utilize these resources when struggling with mental health or other personal issues.
Fun fact: I go to sleepaway camp!
Lily Hultgren
Community/School Liaison
Junior
I have suffered with mental health issues for a lot of my life. It impacted a lot of my life negatively, especially when I wasn’t aware of how to ask for help or where I could go to find help. Thankfully, I was eventually able to find the help I needed and was able to much better talk to the people around me about what I was going through. I was able to gain a very strong support system that helped me navigate a lot of my mental health challenges. I joined TAG and continue to be a part of it so that I can help other people with their struggles, especially mental health. It can be very easy to feel alone when you are dealing with mental health struggles, so I joined to help people find their ways to the resources and people that can help them and ultimately recognize that they are not alone.
Liora Perkins
Freshman Health Class Presentation Coordinator
I joined TAG because I wanted to make a difference at Staples by advocating for mental health awareness and substance abuse prevention. I think that everything TAG works towards promotes a positive and informed environment among students.
Interests: I love all types of dance and it’s where I spend most of my time outside of school. I’m also a president for two clubs at Staples, The Mitzvah Club and Dancers Exchange
Junior
Mateo Olea
General Board
More information coming soon.
Claudia Trinchi
General Board
Junior
I wanted to be a part of a community that brings issues of mental health and substance abuse into the spotlight in a way to help people on a day to day basis and not make them feel bad about themselves, and help them flourish in the future.
Interests: I swim for the Staples Girls Swim & Dive Team, and in my free time I love spending time with my friends and walking my dog!
Anya Nair
Co-Vice President
Senior
More information coming soon
Annam Olasewere
Co-Secretary
Junior
I joined TAG to help teenagers and adolescents navigate through and raise awareness about impactful events and uncomfortable situations they will face as they journey through high school and beyond. I also joined so African Americans and other minority communities can feel more comfortable making informed decisions and relate more to what TAG's mission is.
Fun Fact: I am a nationally ranked competitive swimmer and I love 3D Printing!!
Ryder Levine
Community/School Liaison
Junior
I joined TAG to spread awareness about issues that have affected my and my peers lives, as well as to provide resources to those who may be struggling similarly. Additionally, seeing how issues such as substance abuse and mental health have affected my peers, I want to be able to help and support those around me.
Interests: I am part of Junior
State of America, SHS Yearbook, and
much more. I also love all things music
(the picture is me at a boygenius
concert!).
Rachel Olefson
Freshman Health Class Presentation Coordinator
Junior
I joined TAG sophomore year because I think advocating for mental health awareness is super important, especially in a school like Staples. I feel it is important for everyone to know they always have a place to go if they need to talk.
Interests/activities: Outside of TAG I love to ski, play tennis, and drive around with my friends. I am the co-president of First Serve Staples and I’m also the VP of Communications for Yofi, our local BBYO chapter, as well as a web editor for Inklings.
Katie Fitzgerald
General Board
I joined TAG with the aim of ensuring that each one of my classmates are aware of all the available resources at Staples.It's crucial for all students to make use of these resources when facing challenges related to mental health or other personal issues.
Interests: I play both soccer and lacrosse.
Junior
Sienna Sedlarcik
General Board
Sophomore
I joined TAG to spread awareness and educate others in my community about mental health and substance abuse, as they have a huge effect on the students at Staples.
Interests: Interests/Activities: I am in many different clubs at Staples and play tennis for Staples in the Spring. I also tutor and babysit many kids. I enjoy listening to music and being with friends and family.
Victoria Fidalgo Schioppa
Co-Vice President
Senior
I joined TAG to raise awareness about mental health in the school setting. I wanted to be a part of the positive change towards more mental health awareness in school so that students know its okay to feel however they are feeling.
Interests: I am a competitive gymnast and I compete for my club team as well as Staples. I’m also captain for Staples gymnastics. I also love traveling and visiting new places.
Samantha Sandrew
Co-Secretary
Senior
Hi! I am Samantha Sandrew. I love to play volleyball and science. As I got older, substances were becoming more prevalent in my age group and I wanted to learn more about them in order to keep myself and my peers safe. The pandemic also strengthened my desire to join TAG because mental health was an issue many, including myself, struggled with and so I felt that TAG’s work was increasingly important.
Ayaan Olasewere
Co-Treasurers/Fundraising
Junior
I joined TAG because I feel that they are challenges (opportunities) to be addresses, and programs to be created, to make Staples an even better place. I wanted to bring attention to issues, such as the lack of program aimed at helping the disadvantaged, or at mental health in sports, as well as having the chance to establish diversity.
Interests: I love writing and reading.
Maia Gubitz
More information coming soon.
Freshman Health Class Presentation Coordinator
Lucy Fischer
General Board
Junior
I wanted to help create change for students struggling with mental health issues within the Staples community. The environment can be stressful and challenging, but with help and support, it gets easier.
Interests: I play the bass in Chamber Orchestra and am a member of Tri M. I also play soccer and dance.
Ava Coyle
General Board
Junior
Being in a huge school, it can feel like no one notices your struggle. I wanted to help make a positive change, for people to feel heard and know the resources available to them.
Interests: I am a part of Inklings, I am currently the social media manager. It is one of my favorite hobbies. I really enjoy the journalism process and the collaboration aspects!