Diana Manternach on gratitude, jalapenos- and her goals as CGSA President | Humans of Catlin Gabel
By Maddie Snyder ‘26
Diana Manternach on the first day of the 2025-2026 school year. Courtesy of Diana Manternach.
The first thing Diana Manternach ‘26 wanted to be when she was younger was the President of the United States. Although she says that particular presidency goal has changed, she still has many more she hopes to achieve in her current position as the 2025-2026 Catlin Gabel Student Association (CGSA) President.
The first time Manternach felt the “power” of the Catlin community she now aims to serve was on her sixth grade camping trip to Arago. The camping trip is a CGS tradition for the sixth grade class, with each new class of students camping there for a few days at the beginning of their first year in middle school.
Manternach, who was new to Catlin in sixth grade, had never been camping before and although the trip was supposed to help her spend time getting to know her new classmates she recalls another presence that distracted her. “I was in the tent where the raccoons did in fact infiltrate.”
She says the response from her new classmates at her discomfort of the situation was “one of the first times I got to feel the kindness in the community that I now see everyday.”
Three years later when Manternach entered the Upper School she admired the Presidential position. She made the decision to run last year after seeing through her role as Treasurer on the CGSA the kind of change the president could enact.
“I wanted to run for president because I noticed changes that I wanted to see implemented my senior year and thought I could execute them by combining past traditions with new ones.”
Among these traditions Manternach references candy grams as something she hoped to bring back this year, but overall her goal as president is to “build community through gratitude.”
“When we recognize all of the people who positively impact all of our lives we have a greater understanding of what community really means” she says.
In the first assembly of the year she started her progress on this goal through the installment of gratitude moments at the beginning of assemblies. Manternach in her opening speech during that same assembly also explained her motivation for this year-long theme of gratitude.
This summer she visited Armenia for the first time, where her family is from. She says that seeing the difference between life in the United States and in Armenia sparked a moment of reflection for her.
“This summer was the first time when I think I fully reflected on the fact that gratitude needs to be shown more and expressed more.” In general she believes that we can “always have more gratitude.”
Along with her presidential duties Manternach also participates in a variety of activities outside of the Catlin community. She plays on the lacrosse team at Lakeridge High School after school and takes great care of her jalapeno garden on the weekends.
The origins of her jalapeno crop began by chance. “A plant store by my house sells little starter plants for jalapenos and this year I decided I will try them and they flourished in my garden,” she recalled.
Unfortunately for those that would like to try her jalapenos or her favorite spicy guacamole she makes with them, it seems that her garden is not open to business.
“Oh I eat them all, there's not enough to sell, please, my harvests are very small.” She joked.
In addition to growing spicy peppers, Manternach also enjoys surfing when she can. She began visiting Ecola park during COVID with her dad. Although she has gone less since acquiring the schedule of a busy high schooler, it is still something she holds close to her heart.
Manternach on top of being a surfer and jalapeno grower is also the first female CGSA president in five years. “I think regardless of gender I take a lot of pride in serving the student body” she said about the fact.
When asked how she would want to be remembered as a President Manternach responded “as someone who left a positive mark on the Catlin community.”