Part 1: Meet El Toro High's New Teen Leaders

Editor's note: This is the first of two stories introducing you to the new Associated Student Body representatives at El Toro High School.

Elections are over, and the votes have been tallied. A new ASB leadership class is getting to know one another under the guidance of Kathryn Scheidler, El Toro High School's activities director.

I stopped by the one and only Lake Forest high school today to chat with the student leaders and find out what makes them tick.

Here's what some of the 2011-12 representatives told me:

Tyler Shannon, 17, senior class president: Shannon said he joined the ASB leadership team to "make a difference" and improve the school's dances.

Nolan Henslick, 17, senior class treasurer: Henslick said being a part of student government is important to him because El Toro High is his home away from home. He also said he wants to "create a better school" and "be a leader" on the campus.

Krissy Mather, senior class secretary: Mather said the T-shirts ASB officers get to wear got her on board. The Charger added, "I love bulls!"

Justin Pascual, 16, junior class vice president: Pascual joined the ASB leadership group to try and "get others involved spirit-wise," rather than just the "typical" students who are active at the school.

Griffin Carroll, ASB president: Carroll said he looked into student government participation when he "saw what it has the power to influence." He wants to "be a part of that."

Patrick McKellips, sophomore class secretary: McKellips said the chance to be an ASB representative spoke to him because it "creates an opportunity to reach out" and to "meet new people."

Caleb Ostgaard, 16, service clubs representative: Ostgaard said he joined the ASB governance group because he "wanted to get more involved" because he loves his school. "El Toro is awesome," Caleb said.

Andrew McKellips, 17, ASB secretary: McKellips ran for secretary because he want to "reach out to my school and community and meet new people."

Alice Hackett, 17, city of Lake Forest liaison: Hackett said she ran for that position because she wanted to "get more involved" in her school and in her community.

Kaitlyn Hieb, 17, school board representative: Hieb said she wanted to be part of the ASB leadership team because she loves to "plan a lot of the fun events at school. Go Chargers!"

Maggie Gallardo, ASB pep commissioner: Gallardo said she feels "blessed to go to El Toro" and "wanted to get more involved."

Amy Oshiro, ASB vice president: Oshiro said she lives for "putting a smile on fellow students" with the events the leadership team puts on. She has been a part of student government since her freshman year.

Karen Henry, 17, student commissioner: Henry said she "loves El Toro so much" and "wanted to be a part of something that can branch out and make a difference in people's lives." This Charger "bleeds blue and gold."

Reyanne Mustafa, junior class president: Mustafa is entering her third year as an ASB representative because she loves being able to "have such an impact" on the school and having the "power to make a difference in people's lives."

Whitney Williams, girls' athletics commissioner: Williams said she wanted to be a part of the ASB leadership group so she would be "involved" at El Toro and "a part of fun activities."

Gabby Gregory, junior class treasurer: Gregory, who is entering her second year of student government participation, said the group is a "great way to be involved and connect with other students" at El Toro High.

Check back next week for Part 2, where I'll introduce the rest of next year's ASB leadership team.