Daniel Barriga, A Student Leader Making History for Our Community
LAST SPRING, DANIEL A. Barriga made history not only for Madera High ASB and Madera Unified School District, but for our community as he was elected to the California Association of Student Leaders (CASL) State Board for the 2019-2020 school year. This is the highest office for a student-leader in our state. This was no “easy task” as the lengthy process had begun a year prior, with Daniel enduring a rigorous application and interview process with hundreds of students being vetted throughout our state. Daniel’s grit helped him reach “the finals” which culminated in a state-wide election at the CASL Conference in Santa Clara.
The CASL Board is an outgrowth of the work of its parent organization, the California Association of Directors of Activities (CADA). In 1994, the National Association of Student Councils (NasStuCo) saw a need for a board of student leaders in the state of California and asked CADA to take the lead on its formation. After two years of planning, the first CASL State Conference was held in Visalia in 1996 and the first official Board of Directors was elected at that conference. Since then, the two organizations have supported each other in their shared mission to develop student leaders in schools around California and beyond.
The CASL mission as a student-led, not-for-profit organization is to provide a statewide network, built to facilitate the development of ethical, responsible, and servant leaders. CASL’s initiative is to equip and empower students to be effective future leaders of the world through local, regional, and statewide conferences. The board is made up of only seven (7) Northern and Southern directors. Each year, this team of leaders works tirelessly to plan and host the annual CASL State Conference. Additionally, the board members have the opportunity to assist and present at various leadership development events over the course of their one (1) year term. Daniel will spend his senior year traveling the state to help other students and meet with elected officials. Through a service-above-self mentality, Daniel and the board put their trust in student leaders to serve as the driving forces of creating positive cultures within schools, communities, and organizations.
