NATIONAL LEADERsHIP
The National Board is the group responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the organization. Headed by the National Chairman, it is made up of officers elected by the National Committee and directors and staff members appointed by the Board.
The National Committee, on the other hand, is the organization's governing body. It is made up of state chapter board members and chapter presidents. The National Committee sets the High School Republicans' overall direction and policies and works to support and coordinate the efforts of the state and local chapters.
2024-2025
Chairman
Yosef Herrera (TX)
Yosef Herrera currently serves as the Chairman of HSREPS. He was formerly the Co-Chair and the State Chairman for the Texas Federation of Teenage Republicans, a state federation of HSREPS. In the past, Yosef has also served as the Western Regional Director of HSREPS. He values community and the protection of American values. When Yosef isn't engaged in political activities, you can find him playing multiple instruments, from the cello to the saxophone, or enjoying time in the air or on the sea.
Co-Chairman
Braden Lacefield (KY)
Braden Lacefield is the National Co-Chairman of HSReps. He also serves as President of the Woodford County High School Republicans Club, one of the largest chapters in the nation. Previously, he held the positions of State Chairman of KYHSReps and Midwest RVC. Braden has worked on several campaigns, including an internship with the state party. Outside of politics, he is heavily involved in 4-H, FFA, and Y-Club. Additionally, he is an archer, fisher, and hunter. Braden believes that winning comes from taking it one student at a time and one county at a time.
Treasurer
Giuseppe Schiano De Cola (PA)
Giuseppe is a 16 year old Junior in the North Penn School District. He currently serves as the State Chair for Pennsylvania High School Republicans and an Associate Committee Person (Hatfield Township) with the Montgomery County Republican Committee. In the past he has served on many campaigns, but his favorite was Doug Mastriano's campaign where he served as Youth Outreach Coordinator for Montgomery County. Every election since 2021 he goes to his polling location and hands out material from 7am - 8pm. He also knocked on about 200 doors in the fall and just around 150 so far this year for upcoming elections. In school he is a Senator in the North Penn SGA, and was previously the President of Pennfield Middle School's SGA. He is also a Student Representative on the North Penn School District Finance Committee. Giuseppe is also involved in 4-H, where he is on the Development Committee for Montgomery County.
Northeastern Regional Vice-Chairman
Nick Stilianessis (NJ)
Nick is the reelected Northeast Vice Chair of the National Federation of High School Republicans. He is a junior in high school and also serves as the Passaic County High School Republicans Chairman. Nick has worked with various campaigns, from the local level to the national level. He has knocked on thousands of doors and made tens of thousands of calls for these campaigns over the past three years. He has been involved in politics since the seventh grade and has been a member of the High School Republicans since its founding in 2022. Nick is also active in his community and volunteers for various local events.
Midwestern Regional Vice-Chairman
EZRA FOOTE (KY)
Ezra is the National Midwest Vice Chair of HSReps; he also serves as the Kentucky First Congressional District Chair. Ezra has worked on multiple campaigns, including his 6-month internship with the Republican Party of Kentucky, where he knocked over 4,000 doors, mobilized volunteers, and gave multiple speeches in front of local parties. He is active in his local GOP and loves promoting conservative values. Ezra is a proud Eagle Scout and Kentucky Colonel who has a passion for learning history and American government. Besides politics, Ezra is involved in multiple organizations, serving as the President of the Kentucky FBLA, Calloway County High School Beta Club President, CCHS Interact Club President, and Class President.
Executive Director
Michael Bicksel (DC)
Michael Bicksel serves as the executive director of HSREPS and is the founder and chairman of the Washington, D.C. chapter of HSREPS. He previously served as Editor-In-Chief of the Conservateen. He is dedicated to promoting conservative values and spreading the Republican message across the country. Outside of politics, Michael is an avid debater who enjoys reading and playing with his dog.
Political Director
OM SHARMA (VA)
Om is the National Political Director of HSReps. He is a rising senior in high school and resides in Virginia. Om has previously worked on presidential campaigns and statewide campaigns in addition to serving as a United States Senate Page. Om is also a graduate of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia which he describes as the catalyst of his passion for politics. Om is the President of an organization he founded called Asian Youth for Conservative Thought where he hopes to uplift an underserved community's voices and foster political literacy among youth. Om hopes to utilize the culmination of his previous skills and apply it to his role as Political Director as he looks to expand our organization and develop a platform to represent HSReps.
Communications Director
SARA LALLEMONT (tx)
n/a
Development Director
Kellen Habibelahy (VA)
Kellen is the Development Director of HSReps and also serves as the Chairman of the High School Republican Federation of Virginia. He was formerly the Tenth Congressional District Chair in Virginia, where his chapter became the largest in the state within weeks using his outreach strategies. Kellen is a current sophomore in high school. Kellen has extensive campaign experience, serving as a strategist on the Scott Parkinson for Senate campaign. He is dedicated to fighting for and promoting conservative values across the United States. When he's not involved in politics, you can find him participating in student government, DECA, or cross country.
Social Media Director
Sophia Robinson (VA)
Sophia Robinson is currently a junior in high school and serves as the social media director of High School Republicans, and as secretary of Virginia High School Republicans. Sophia served as a Virginia Senate Page as well as interning for Senator Travis Hackworth. She has demonstrated outstanding leadership by serving as Vice President over the student body as well as formally serving as communications director over Virginia High School Republicans. In her spare time she enjoys listening to music, playing tennis, golfing, and finding different ways to effectively serve her community.
Conservateen Editor-In-Chief
Gabriel Gary (IN)
Gabriel is a 15-year-old podcast host, blogger, speaker, and political commentator. He is the Editor-In-Chief of the HSREPS national publication The Conservateen. He also hosts a podcast called Gen Z on Leadership where he interviews leaders from all walks of life. On his podcast he has interviewed university presidents, mayors, and state senators. He has experience in writing and journalism through his blog The Cincinnatus. On The Cincinnatus Gabriel writes about politics, Gen Z, and much more. He is driven to inspire people of not just Gen Z but all generations to get involved in leadership and politics.
Visual Media Director
JACQUES JONES (TX)
Jacquez serves as the graphics designer on the Highschool Republicans National Board, and the Vice-Chairman for the Texas Federation of Teenage Republicans. Since the age of 15, he has been working to get Republicans elected up and down the ballot. From door knocking, phone banking, and learning the issues most important to Texans, he quickly gained essential knowledge to guide him into his role now. Jacquez believes his calling isn’t just to spread the conservatism movement among the youth, but to ignite young people across America to engage in their local and statewide political systems.
ADVISORS
Advisor
Rachel Howard (LA)
Rachel Howard is the Chair of the National Federation of College Republicans. As the National Chair, she is working to help College Republican Federations around the country advance the Republican cause on campus, elect conservatives, and mobilize the next generation of Republican leadership.
Prior to her current position, Rachel was the Louisiana state chair for 3 years where she helped grow the Federation, provided block grants to chapters, and hosted a multitude of speakers and days of action. She has worked on numerous campaigns in and out of Louisiana.
Advisor
John Koons (DC)
​John Koons currently serves as Deputy Director at the Leadership Institute’s Jay Henges Center, where he assists in training conservative activists on running campaigns. He previously served as the Youth Engagement Director for the Republican National Committee, where he led party efforts of engaging young voters. Starting as a college freshman, he organized various local school board, borough council, and judicial campaigns, before transitioning to other local and statewide elections. During the 2020 presidential cycle, John served as the Pennsylvania Trump Victory Leadership Initiative Director where he oversaw the statewide volunteer recruitment and training efforts. Prior to joining the statewide Pennsylvania Trump Victory team, John was a grassroots organizer for Central Pennsylvania, developing a robust team of 1,000+ volunteers between 2018 and 2019. We are honored to have him as one of our National Advisors!
STATE CHAIRS
Arkansas
Anna Hopper
Connecticut
JAKE LEBEL
Hawaii
Jameson
Apana
New Hampshire
aNTHONY HENRY
Wyoming
CUTTER HULET