Student body presidents are a rare breed -- at each high school, there is just one. So what does it take to run for office in high school and what kind of people choose to do it?

Meet Alex Alpert, Alexandra von Klan and Kevin O'Toole, Associated Student Body presidents at Napa, New Technology and Vintage high schools. Justin-Siena High School does not have an ASB president, its student government is composed of a committee of student body officers.

Napa High's Alpert, 17, said he got started in school politics during his freshman year when he worked on homecoming game floats. During his junior year, he ran for ASB commissioner of building and grounds, an office created to foster campus beautification.

In the spring of his junior year, Alpert said he adopted a recycling policy for Napa High when he recognized paper waste was a problem at school; the program is still in place.

Alpert said it's his duty to help make sure events like prom and homecoming run smoothly and are successful and fun for students. He also oversees other student body officers and helps coordinate big game and lunchtime activities.

With other student government officers, Alpert attends weekly ASB meetings and discusses goals, what each group must accomplish, and determines whether help will be needed from other clubs or officers.

Alpert said one of the perks of being ASB president at Napa High School is getting to work with his friends. The school's ASB vice president is Rachel Lieberstein, a family friend Alpert made when he was just 2 years old.

Alpert said he has always attended public schools.

"I wanted to come to Napa High and show my parents I can do a good job here. I've always been in the public school system. If you stay in the advanced placement and honors programs in public schools, it's almost like going to another school," he said, referring to Napa High School's quality of education.

Alpert said his parents, Anne Hoff and Robert Alpert, are proud of what he has achieved as ASB president.

"Student government takes on lots of roles. They tend to be the people involved in everything," he said.

Alpert recently applied to UCLA as a political science major. And although political science appeals to him, he said he's also interested in environmental or business pursuits -- Alpert also serves as Sierra Club president at Napa High.

Eighteen-year-old O'Toole said he decided to get into school politics to build student unity at Vintage High School. "I saw what I didn't like and I wanted change. We're building a Vintage community, and I want to reach out to groups that don't get much recognition."

With other student body officers, O'Toole founded the Benefactor Association, a group started to help school programs in need of funding, he said. Goals include raising money to hire guest speakers and acquiring funds for new computers in Vintage High's career center.

O'Toole said individuals, families and local businesses have donated funds to the Benefactor Association.

"Dey Laboratories agreed to match a $5,000 donation and said they will donate computers. Rep. Mike Thompson, (D-St. Helena) donated wines from his vineyard for an auction. We also auctioned off a dinner made by students and another made by Vintage administration members."

O'Toole, who is also on Vintage High's water polo and swim teams, said his parents Mike and Dori O'Toole were pleasantly surprised when he decided to run for student body president because he was never involved in school leadership before. He said his friends were supportive when decided to get into school politics, adding that he has friends in both student government and school sports at Vintage.

O'Toole said he was inspired politically by an autobiography written by Tip O'Neill, former Speaker of the House, titled "Man of the House."

While O'Toole said he doesn't have specific career plans yet, he was recently accepted to Gonzaga University, where he plans to major in business or English -- possibly both.

In the meantime, he said, he will work to bridge communication gaps between the student body and school administration.

"Next week, we'll be having a student and faculty forum. It keeps students and teachers on the same page as administration."

O'Toole said Vintage students are concerned about budget cuts, but he keeps his thoughts positive. "Students want to and can be more of a part of their own education," he said.

Von Klan, 18, is ASB president at New Technology High School and said an adventurous spirit led her to run for office.

"I like to try everything once. I came here during my junior year, and started the Terra Mater Club," she said, referring to the organization she founded to promote campus beautification.

Von Klan said her goals include getting more students involved in campus activities and more juniors interested in the next ASB election.

Von Klan has another leader in her family tree. "My dad was senior class president in high school," she said, adding that her dad, George von Klan and stepmom, Sharon von Klan are proud she's involved in student government; her mother, Liesl Towner, lives in North Carolina.

Von Klan said being in student government promotes better public speaking, the ability to delegate tasks, and aids in building organizational and interpersonal skills.

"Being president has been a learning experience for me. Here at New Tech, you know everyone," she said.

Von Klan said future ASB presidents should be focused, flexible, organized and understanding. "People have all kinds of different wants and needs and there are lots of opinions."

Von Klan said she was recently accepted to UC Santa Barbara and UC Santa Cruz, but she hopes to attend UCLA and plans to major in gender studies or English. "I want to get into journalism, communications or maybe anthropology."