Each year, Westover Honors students elect a Student Executive Board.
The board plans student-led events and offers Westover Fellows a more effective voice in the program by acting as a liaison between the directors and the fellows.
2023-24
Penny Ayala ’27
Community Service Chair
Penny Ayala ’27 (she/her) is an accounting major with a minor in public relations raised in Lynchburg, Virginia. Originally from Franklin, Tennessee, this is her first year serving on the Executive Board and is looking forward to all of the fun events waiting to be planned. Serving as the community service chair, Ayala hopes to connect the entire student body with the greater Lynchburg community through acts of community service. Apart from serving on the Westover Executive Board, Ayala is a member of and class representative in the Bonner Leader Program where she will begin volunteering with Beacon of Hope’s Mentor Hero’s Program. Penny enjoys traveling to new places, listening to calming music, and cooking.
Natalee Coates ’26
Vice President of External Affairs
Natalee Coates ’26 (she/her) s a double major in criminology and intelligence studies with a minor in crisis communication from Madison County, Virginia. This is her second year serving on the board after previously serving as the mentorship chair. This year serving as vice president of external affairs, Coates hopes to connect current students with alumni. In addition to being a Westover Fellow, she is also a member of the Bonner Leader Program where she works for the Lynchburg Fire Department, Alpha Chi Omega Sorority, and principal second violin for the University’s orchestra.
Zoey Horn ’28
President
Zoey Horn ‘26 (she/her) is a biology major with a biomedical emphasis and a minor in gender studies from Hillsborough, North Carolina. This is Horn’s second year serving on the board, and is eager to serve and lead the Westover Fellows in this position. She has previously served as a class representative in both semesters of her first year, and the academic programming chair in the fall of her sophomore year. Using experience from these positions, she has many ideas for upcoming things for the board. Aside from Westover, Horn is on the University’s equestrian team, the Student Judicial Board, and has served as a Connection Leader. Horn enjoys spending time with her horse, being outside with her friends, and reading for pleasure.
Asher Stang ’25
Vice President of Internal Affairs
Asher Stang ’25 (he/him) is a double major in biomedical science and psychological science major with a minor in neuroscience from Amelia, Virginia. This is Stang’s second term with the Westover Executive Board and is very excited to get to know all of you and plan some fun events by connecting all students! Stang works as a community assistant in the first-year dorms and serves as the Chemistry 112 PASS leader. Stang is also involved in the music department as a trumpet player in the wind symphony and plays several instruments in the Hornet Combo. Off campus, Asher works as an EMT and hopes to go into the medical field in the future.
Nic Stammer ’27
Campus Outreach Chair
Nic Stammer ‘27 (he/him) is a psychology major with a counseling concentration and a minor in education. Originally from Annapolis, Maryland, he now lives in Richmond, Virginia. This is Stammer’s first year serving on the Executive Board and is looking forward to creating a bunch of fun events for Westover Fellows. As the campus outreach chair, Stammer is excited to give the Westover Fellows some great opportunities to get involved and have fun as a community. Besides serving on the Westover Executive Board, Stammer is the communications chair for the Neurodiverse Student Alliance. Stammer is an active member of a lot of organizations and clubs on campus. He was previously a class representative for 2027 before joining the Executive Board. Nic loves to play the drums, meet new people, and is always looking for something new to do.
Emily Smith ’26
Mentorship Chair
Emily Smith ‘26 (she/her) is a double major in forensic psychological sciences and criminology with a double minor in forensic criminology and studio art from Nelson County, Virginia. This is her first year on the Westover executive board but is excited to make her first term a good one! In her first year, she was Westover’s first-year representative for her class. Besides Westover, she works in the theatre as a technical student assistant in the shop. She also is involved in the theatre and art program as an actress and painter. Outside of Westover, she enjoys gardening, reading, and spending time with her friends and family. We all hope this year will be an amazing one!
Lorraine Upton ’26
Digital Media Chair
Lorraine Upton ’26 (she/her) is an environmental science major with communication electronic media and studio art minor from Windsor, Virginia. This is her second year serving on the board and has been brainstorming a lot of ideas to create for the media pages. She has been in this position as digital media chair since last year and was a class representative during her first fall semester. She is also a trip leader for the Outdoor Leadership Program and a campus photographer for the marketing department. Upton hopes to represent the Westover community through the posts made on social media platforms and create new connections in the process.
