Severna Park High School junior Veeraj Shah is one of two finalists to become the next student member on the Maryland State Board of Education.
The names of Veeraj and David Edimo of Richard Montgomery High School in Montgomery County were sent to Governor Larry Hogan after a rigorous process which culminated with an election by hundreds of student government representatives during the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) Legislative Session. The governor will make the final appointment.
“I am incredibly excited for the chance to represent the students of Maryland, to advocate for diverse student needs, and to support policies that improve our collective educational experience,” Veeraj said. “Getting here was definitely a team effort, with support from my school, CRASC, and MASC friends.”
Veeraj has testified on prior bills presented to the Anne Arundel County Board of Education, attended Maryland General Assembly meetings, and currently serves on the Superintendent’s Teen Advisory Committee. He also works part-time in the radiation oncology department at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and plans to pursue a career in medicine and public policy. In his spare time, Veeraj is a member of Severna Park High School’s tennis team and plays the guitar.
The student board member serves a one-year term and exercises one of 12 votes on the Maryland State Board of Education. The student member, however, is excluded from votes concerning budget, legal, and personnel matters. Students have served as members on the Board for more than 20 years.