By Tyler Dahlgren

Millard South High School buzzed with an infectious kind of energy on a sunny spring Friday, as two gatekeepers of that special culture took a seat in one of their school’s conference rooms.

Molly Kaldahl, a senior, and Ava Nkwocha, a junior, are Millard South Patriots through and through. They’re leaders, on this campus and beyond. Way beyond. Kaldahl is the National Student Council President, while Nkwocha is serving as the inaugural Nebraska Student Council Representative.

Today provides another special opportunity in a year that’s been filled with experiences the duo already cherishes, and they’re brimming with excitement. Dr. Evelyn Edney, President of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), is on the way for a day of touring various MPS buildings.

For students like Kaldahl and Nkwocha, showing off your school is always fun. Especially when your school has so much to show off.

“I just love everything about Millard South,” said Kaldahl. “I love the community, the environment. Our whole school, as a group, is actively involved. Our teachers are amazing. I’ve grown up here.”

There’s something for everyone at Millard South, said Nkwocha, and that’s what they hoped their tour would illustrate to Edney, who attended the Nebraska Council of School Administrators’ Celebrating Women in Leadership event in Kearney the two days prior.

“That’s probably my favorite thing about Millard South, is just the variety of clubs and different things the school has to offer,” Nkwocha said. “They’re really good at meeting people wherever they are. Most students are involved in one thing or another.”

For Nebraska to claim two national-level leaders from the same hallway is surreal, said principal Heidi Weaver. Weaver joined the tour, as did Millard North Middle School assistant principal and NASSP board member Dr. Anna Thoma and MNMS Student Council President Ka'Bria Crum, but she left the talking to the gatekeepers. Kaldahl and Nkwocha, who shared hugs with Edney (they’d met previously at national events) upon her arrival, proceeded to knock it out of the park.

“We couldn’t survive without the type of student leadership they provide,” Weaver said. “Our Student Council is outstanding, and they bring so many cool initiatives to our building. They’re always thinking of new ways to engage our students.”

For Kaldahl and Nkwocha, Edney’s visit was less of a formal inspection and more of a "show and tell" of the community that shaped them. Kaldahl, who stepped into the National President role in January, describes her journey as a whirlwind.

"I started off as an officer, applied for Vice President of Leadership Development, and it was a full national election with Instagram campaigns, managers, the whole thing," Kaldahl said. “I learned a lot during that experience, and felt myself grow in a lot of different areas.

When the previous president vacated the seat for a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity”, Kaldahl stepped up.

Nkwocha’s path was equally historic. As the first-ever Nebraska state representative to the national council, she occupies a seat that rotates between states every year. 

"Molly and [Kyrie] Nehls told me, 'Hey, there’s this position we think you’d be great at,'" Nkwocha said. “I was like, ‘Okay, tell me more.’ I was kind of nervous, but I just went for it.”

After a thorough application process that moved from the state level to national selection, she found herself advocating for Nebraska on a platform she once thought was a little out of reach.

"Being from Nebraska, I think sometimes we’re a little closed off to those opportunities," Kaldahl added. "Going to Capitol Hill doesn’t seem reachable, but it is definitely attainable. I wish everyone knew that they should just try and see what happens if you apply."

There were a few things in particular they felt Edney absolutely needed to see. The centerpiece of the tour, for example, was the Millard South Student Pantry, a project that has gained national attention, including a feature at the LEAD (Leadership Experience and Development) Conference in Washington D.C.

While many schools across Nebraska host incredible food drives, the Millard South pantry is a student-led operation that has been running since 2016. It serves as a lifeline for the community, but also as a business lab for the students who run it.

"It’s entirely student-run," Kaldahl explained. "We take shifts each week, contact companies for partnerships, organize inventory, and clear out space. Our staff is amazing at helping during distribution days, but the logistics and the moving parts, that’s on us."

For Student Council sponsor and social studies teacher Kyrie Nehls, the pantry is a product of the school’s "three pillars" of leadership: developing leaders within the council, serving the school, and serving the community. 

"I hope Dr. Edney sees how much we respond to the needs of our students," Nehls said. "The pantry is a huge piece of our service to our students. It’s not just our student council voice, either. It’s the student voice as a whole."

In October, Kaldahl and Nkwocha traveled to Washington D.C. for the National Education Advocacy Summit. There, they traded school hallways for the marble corridors of Capitol Hill, meeting with Nebraska’s congressional representatives to discuss a variety of matters, among them the fiscal 2026 education budget.

"We went over Titles I through V, kept it bipartisan," Nkwocha said with the poise of a seasoned lobbyist. "We talked about maintaining funding levels and shared personal stories from our schools to show how these policies actually affect us."

Dr. Edney said she’s in awe of the two Nebraska students, noting that their ability to bridge the gap between local student life and national policy is one of their many special attributes. 

"Our national student council kids are the ones who represent America, and these two do incredible things at the national level," said Edney, who also commented on how hospitable everybody in Nebraska was during her visit. "You can tell when there’s a genuine love for a school, and they each have that and more. You can just feel the culture in the building."

Weaver watched the tour with a mix of pride and fulfillment. To Weaver, Kaldahl and Nkwocha are the quintessential Millard South Patriots.

"They were so excited. They met yesterday, they met right before you all showed up, they had a list: 'We have to tell them this, we have to show them that,'" Weaver laughed. "We’re blessed with excellent student leadership here. They aren't just figureheads. They’re planners. Whether it's organizing a safe Homecoming or 'Stress Less Weeks' to help students manage mental health, they are always thinking of ways to help our students and improve our school."

The visit also highlighted the school's commitment to real-life vocational opportunities, something Nkwocha was eager to showcase during a trek across the parking lot to Buell Stadium’s pressbox. By providing students with professional-grade equipment and responsibilities, Millard South creates an environment where a student isn't just a "kid in a chair," but a bonafide broadcaster.

“I’m excited to show off the student broadcasting booth,” Nkwocha said. “We talk about how we try to provide students with real life opportunities and work experience to get better at whatever it is they’re interested in, and that’s a great example.”

The tour of the school eventually concluded, and by then something became crystal clear. Millard South, with its 2,509 students, 154 teachers and more than 350 courses offered, is producing leaders capable of standing on any stage.

"I hope [Dr. Edney] remembers that public education is rocking in Nebraska," Weaver said. "That we do wonderful things and students go off to be wonderful people. It’s the 'Nebraska Proud' mentality."

For Kaldahl and Nkwocha, leading at a national level has been transformative. They know the experience will fly by, and they appreciate the foundation they’ll one day down the road be a part of.

"The memories will last a lifetime," said Nkwocha.

Millard South has received National Gold Council of Excellence status from the National Association of Student Councils every year since 2008. That’s a staggering figure, but after seeing this place firsthand, Edney was amazed but not overly surprised. Millard South High School checks out.

"I always say to students, 'Just show me what you're most proud of,'” Edney said. “When you're around students like Ava and Molly, it’s invigorating. This is why we do what we do."