2015-16 JMCHS student body president follows in his grandfather's footsteps 50 years later

Friday, Sep. 04, 2015

SALT LAKE CITY — Being the student body president during high school is a great honor and has a lot of responsibilities, but at Judge Memorial Catholic High School this particular year, it also means what could be the start of a family tradition.

In 1956, Leo Walz was elected as the JMCHS student body president. This year, his grandson Joey Walz will fill the post. 

“It is great – basically, 50 years apart,” said Joe Walz, Sr., who grew up hearing plenty about the school where three generations of his family have attended.

“My dad used to tell us a lot of stories, and I was a student there as well, and my sons go there. Judge is really a big part of our family,” said Walz.

When his son told him that he was running for the position of student body president, he started remembering how great Judge has been for the family.

“There’s so much history there, I think he considers an honor going there, “said Walz, adding that when his father, who is now in his 70s, learned his grandson had been elected student body president, he immediately started recalling a lot of memories from 50 years ago.

“It created a nice bond that not many grandfathers have with their grandkids,” said Walz.

Joey Walz is a senior who has represented Judge Memorial at Utah’s 2015 leadership camp for elite students-athletes; he is also one of the captains for the 2015 Bulldog varsity football team.

Elections for the Judge Memorial Student Council are held every spring, when the students choose officers for the next year; elections for Frosh Core are held each year in the fall after school begins.

The student body president serves as the leader in all the meetings. Among some of his responsibilities are giving assistance, guidance and praise to other officers as well as functioning as the facilitator during the discussions; he also maintains frequent contact with the faculty and administrators and works with the advisor on matters of planning. In addition, he participates in student council activities and events.

“It’s a great responsibility, but a great honor, too,” said Joey Walz.

The Student Council “forms an important bridge between the students and the administration and are active ambassadors for Judge throughout the year,” reads the role description at Judge Memorial.