Maxim Grinberg ‘27 is Lake Forest Academy’s All-School President for the 2026-2027 school year.
Grinberg, from Moscow, Russia, has been active in student leadership throughout his years at LFA. He participated in the Student Council as a class representative and in the Atlass Dorm Council as a Proctor in the past two years.
Grinberg said that as a freshman at LFA, he “could barely speak English.” He decided to run for ASP his junior year to prove that at LFA, the loudest voice is not always the best leader; it has more to do with character.
Grinberg said his goals for this year range from things like better athletic equipment organization to a wider focus on sustainability, reflecting his passion for the environment. Last year, he helped run the athletic equipment donation program. This year, he wants to encourage more people to compost, recycle and change the way they think about waste.
Grinberg emphasized he wants every student to feel heard. “It’s about communication,” Grinberg said about the need to connect with all students.
He is aware that the student council cannot personally know everyone on campus, but he wants to make it clear that anyone can come to them with ideas. He said the student council will always try to bring these ideas to the administration through meetings each cycle with Head of School Tom Johnson.
“Some people would say they don’t have weaknesses, but I definitely do,” Grinberg said. “I think mine is always trying to do everything myself instead of delegating.” He added that he is learning to trust his team more and incorporate others’ ideas more.
“My goal is to be a great person, a great community member — a person who people can trust,” Grinberg said. He believes that leadership is not about a title; it is about acting responsibly and setting a good example for others.
As the new school year begins, Grinberg has a simple message to the LFA community: “We don’t have to study all the time. We don’t have to stress over something. We have to enjoy our high school experience. We’re not going to have a second time.”