On Saturday, April 18, 2026, Mattoon Middle School (MMS) student Jaxon Wells was elected to serve as the second Mattoon Middle School student to hold the Southeastern District Representative position on the Executive Board of the Illinois Association of Junior High Student Councils (IAJHSC). This role represents 32 counties across the state and is part of the only middle level student leadership organization of its kind in the nation.
This is a prestigious and impactful role. As part of his responsibilities, Jaxon will attend the week-long IAJHSC Summer Leadership Camp, where he will help create the official theme, logo, and mascot for the 2026 to 2027 school year. These elements help set the tone for student council programming across Illinois.
In addition, Jaxon will serve as a voting member of the executive board, lead two district workshops for student councils, help organize and lead the IAJHSC State Convention in Springfield, and participate in monthly board meetings while representing his district at the state level.
Jaxon follows in the footsteps of Cooper Hughes, a Mattoon Middle School student who made school history as the first to serve in this role. During his term, Cooper carried out many of the same responsibilities Jaxon will take on, while also helping expand opportunities for MMS students and strengthening connections with schools across the Southeastern District. He also presented a proposed state service project and played a role in bringing additional opportunities to MMS, including hosting a district workshop for area schools.
Jaxon’s election continues this tradition of student leadership at MMS and reflects his own commitment to hard work and service. Mattoon Middle School looks forward to seeing the impact he will make on student leadership across Illinois in the coming year.
Pictured above: Jaxon Wells
Pictured below: Cooper Hughes
