The three finalists for the 2024-2025 Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) will participate in a debate at 6 p.m. on Thursday, April 4, 2024.
The finalists are:
- Miguel Castañeda, Severna Park High School
- Hafsa Hamdaoui, Crofton High School
- Divine Kainessie, Glen Burnie High School
The debate will be broadcast live on AACPS-TV and on AACPS’ YouTube channel. The election to determine the candidate whose name will be forwarded to the governor for appointment will take place later this month.
The SMOB election is sponsored by the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (CRASC).
The student member is appointed by the Governor, serves a one-year term during his or her senior year of high school, and receives an $8,000 college scholarship. Anne Arundel’s student member is the only one in the nation on a local Board of Education with full voting rights.
CRASC’s constitution and bylaws call for high schools and middle schools in the county to be allotted 15 percent of the school’s enrollment in votes. Delegates will represent student government, the arts, athletics, and other extracurricular activities.
Those who wish to submit questions for the debate can do so by going to www.aacps.org/crasc and clicking on the link on the right side of the page. Students must log into the form using their school account. In addition, CRASC is also hosting a second SMOB Virtual Town Hall on Monday, April 8, at 6:30 p.m. This link will also be posted at www.aacps.org/crasc.