AHS student selected as TN state rep for National Student Council

Arlington High School senior Abigail Cronau has been appointed as Tennessee’s State Representative for the National Student Council (NASC), an achievement that makes her the first student in AHS history to hold a national office in the organization!

Her selection follows a competitive, multi-step application process that began at the AHS Student Council banquet in May. After being nominated by her peers and advisors, Abby completed multiple rounds of applications to represent Tennessee at the national level - a recognition of both her leadership and commitment to student advocacy.

The news came early one Friday morning in June, delivered through an email bearing the NASC seal.

“I woke up to the subject line that just said, ‘Congratulations,’ and my heart started racing,” Abby said. “The first thing I did was text Mrs. Kelley, my advisor. Fifteen minutes later, she and Cooper Hawkins [a fellow student in the AHS Council] were FaceTiming me from Oklahoma City, where they were attending the National Vision Conference. It was such a full-circle moment.”

The honor is a fitting next step in her leadership journey that’s been years in the making. “I’ve been in Student Council all four years,” she said. “So this really allows me to take that work to the next level.”

Driven by a passion for educational policy and reform, she’s looking forward to collaborating with other student leaders across the country and representing Tennessee’s voice in national conversations that matter.

As a State Representative, Abby will participate in monthly meetings with peers from across the U.S. Her mission is clear: serve as the voice of Tennessee students and bring their ideas and concerns to the national stage.

“I want to get the opinions and voices of other Tennessee students across,” she said. “That’s what I’m prioritizing the most.”

But Abby’s appointment is about more than just her own achievement - it also elevates the profile of Arlington High’s Student Council on a much larger platform. Her new role shines a spotlight on the work happening at AHS and showcases the strength of student leadership within the school.

“It puts our council on a pedestal,” she said. “It highlights the amazing work we do and gives AHS the ability to grow beyond this. I know it can.”

That growth mindset is something Abby has embodied throughout her time at Arlington. As a freshman, she never imagined taking on a role like this. But year after year, she kept showing up - getting involved, leading projects and finding her voice. She even spearheaded last year's district-wide Make-A-Wish fundraiser that raised more than $8,000 to grant a wish to a local child battling a critical illness. 

Now, she hopes her journey will inspire others to do the same. “Step out of your comfort zone,” she said. “That’s where it all started for me.”

With one year left at AHS and a national platform ahead, Abby’s leadership is already leaving a lasting legacy - not just for her Arlington High, but for students across Tennessee.