The Young Trustee Nominating Committee has selected eight semifinalists, all of whom are seniors.
The semifinalists are Reem Alfahad, Nikolai Doytchinov, Anna Knight, Ray Li, Avi Moondra, Cara Peterson, David Robertson and Cameron Tripp.
For the first time since 2011, the YTNC cut applicants from the pool before naming the semifinalists. Bylaws require a minimum of eight semifinalists with no maximum, and in recent years, all applicants have been named semifinalists.
Junior Jay Sullivan, chair of the YTNC, said he could not disclose the number of people who were cut before the semifinalist round. All applicants for the position were seniors, he noted.
"It's a really accomplished group," said Sullivan, who also serves as a columnist for The Chronicle. "They're a really diverse group of people with a variety of different experiences."
The deadline was extended this year due to logistical issues with sending the initial application to the student body, Sullivan noted. This extension was not related to the number of applications.
A new non-bias training program was required for YTNC members this year, in an attempt to ensure fairness in the selection process. Committee members are required to declare conflicts of interest with applicants, with conflicts categorized as minor, moderate or major.
By Wednesday, the nominating committee will name two to five finalists after completing interviews with the semifinalists. The Young Trustee will be chosen in a Feb. 5 election.
The Young Trustee serves one year on the Board of Trustees as a nonvoting member and two years as a voting member. Neil Kondamuri, Trinity '14, was elected Young Trustee in last year's election.
Alfahad is a member of The Chronicle's independent editorial board.
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