Five high school juniors from across the county have been nominated to be the 2024-2025 Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) of Anne Arundel County, the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (CRASC) announced today.
The nominees are:
- Mara Babb, Crofton High School
- Miguel Castañeda, Severna Park High School
- Hafsa Hamdaoui, Crofton High School
- Divine Kainessie, Glen Burnie High School
- Dhru Naran, Severna Park High School
The field will be narrowed to three finalists once the panel interviews are conducted on March 7. The finalists will take part in a debate broadcast on AACPS’ YouTube channel at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 4. CRASC delegates will vote for a candidate in late April.
The candidate elected by CRASC will have his or her name forwarded to Governor Wes Moore, who must make the appointment.
Anne Arundel County’s student member on the Board of Education is the only one in the nation on a local board who has full voting rights.
The 2024-2025 SMOB will be the 51st in the history of Anne Arundel County Public Schools. Students have served on the Board since Jeffrey Robinson of Andover High School held an advisory seat in the 1974-1975 school year. Anthony Arend of Arundel High School became the first student member with full voting rights a year later.
More information about the Student Member of the Board can be found here.