AID TOWNSHIP — The Symmes Valley Middle School Student Council is developing a reputation within the community.

The council has sponsored different community programs such as the Pennies for Patients drive, a toy drive at Christmas and a canned food drive at Thanksgiving. The council donates funds and materials for flood, and fire victims. It also helps students with major illnesses who cannot attend school, Nelrose Coffman, director of instruction and curriculum, said.

“Our goal is to make the world a better place for someone,” Lance Humphrey, student council adviser, said. “They are involved in community projects, assist families and they find ways to help out people.”

The student council raised more than $10,000 for the middle school incentive trips that are held each nine weeks and they provide funding for the eighth grade trip to King’s Island in May. They also provide funding for field trips and end-of-the year activities, Coffman said.

“The student council attempts to take care of their students,” Humphrey said.

Last year a student was in a hospital in Columbus battling cancer, the student council voted to donate money, which they raised to go on a trip. They had donated around $1,000 to the family instead of taking the trip, Humphrey said.

“We want them to be leaders,” Coffman said. “They are a very level headed group. It teaches them to give back to the community.”

The student council has performed countless acts that aren’t even recognized, the adviser said.

“We want them to worry about doing the right thing without worrying about getting the credit,” Humphrey said. “It’s about doing the right thing to do the right thing.”

The student council is responsible for organizing middle school dances and working the concession stand for middle school games. The council meets monthly for a working lunch to plan meetings, organize activities and functions, Coffman said.

“They run their own meetings, agendas, make recommendations to the principal,” Coffman said. “When they make recommendations, we take them very seriously and listen to their ideas.

The student council is comprised of representatives from the sixth, seventh and eighth grade. Each homeroom elects a representative, the representatives then vote on the president and the other office members, Coffman said.

President of the 2011-2012 student council is Felicity Jenkins and vice president is Maddie Scott. Sierra Ross is treasurer and Stephanie Brown is the secretary.