What qualities describe a leader? Fearless. Trustworthy. Resilient. Self-Aware. There is one person at MC who has all those characteristics and more. 

Thirty seconds before kickoff, the student section is already roaring. Before the ball is kicked off, one man is walking through the student section and making sure the quirky group is running like a well-oiled machine. 

It’s not the dean, not a teacher, not the principal. It’s Senior Student Body President TJ Kolke. 

His presence around MC isn’t overlooked–everyone knows who he is and what he does. He leads with intention, energy, and a commitment to his fellow students. His leadership is rooted in service and guided by one main goal: to give back to the school that has given so much to him. 

What drives a student leader to balance two varsity sports, honors classwork, and the expectations of the entire student body? For Kolke, it’s simple: his fellow students. To him, MC has always been more than a school–it’s a legacy. 

“My dad went here. My grandpa went here. I always knew I wanted to go here,” he says. 

He didn’t know many people coming in. Attending a small grammar school on the north side of Chicago, he was the only student from his graduating class to come to MC. 

At MC, he threw himself at every opportunity presented to him, which includes varsity hockey, cross country, Caravan Media Group, Caravan Connections, STEM Cohort, honors and AP classes, and the president of the Investment Club. 

Student government became the place where his talents aligned with his purpose. Inspired by last year’s Student Body president, Christos Dimas, Kolke realized the power a student has to support others. 

“Mount Carmel has given a lot to me,” he explains, “So I wanted to give back in whatever way I could.” 

Students see the difference Kolke makes. Senior student council member David Fidler notes how Kolke elevates expectations while supporting those around him. 

“He’s been very good at holding everyone accountable this year,” Fidler says. 

The student council meets once a week, and all members are expected to be there. One of Kolke’s proudest achievements was reviving the student section. 

“Freshman year was really the only year where there was a solid student section,” he says. “To see how many kids were in there this year was insane.” Fidler agrees with the revival of the student section, saying that this year was one of the best turnouts we have had as long as he has been a student. 

Kolke’s impact extends beyond athletics. His passion for charity work, which is built on the work that Dimas did as president, has shaped the way the student council fundraises this year. He hopes to not only continue the partnerships that the student council has had, but also expand and give to more charities. He wants to help ensure that MC remains a school dedicated to service. 

To understand the influence that Kolke has had, look no further than Mr. Brooks Nevrly, the student council moderator. He describes Kolke as “very personable,” explaining that he connects with all types of students. 

“He has a knack for the pulse of the student body,” Mr. Nevrly says. “Students believe that he has their back. He’s dependable.” 

Mr. Nevrly says that the student council’s mission is built on two pillars, community and service, and Kolke does a great job of balancing both. Whether it’s planning the pep rallies or working with charities to donate money, Kolke is always working for the students.

“Being the example and showing up, that’s what you should do,” adds Mr. Nevrly. “And TJ does that.” 

Before his term ends, Kolke is looking to add one thing to MC. Junior Aaron Hyler first pitched the idea to him about a library in May of 2025, when Kolke won the election. It was one of the first things that was mentioned to him by a student. The library is something meaningful that Kolke thinks will help improve MC even more, and other students outside of student council agree.

Overall, his desired legacy is simple: kindness. 

“I want to be remembered as the guy who was there for the small guy,” he says, “The senior who said hi to the freshman, the guy who checked up on classmates, who lifted others when they needed it most.”