Wootton High School Student Named 'Council Member for a Day'

From Montgomery County:

Montgomery County Council member Craig Rice will host Angela Wu from Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville as an honorary council member on Tuesday, Nov. 1. Council member Rice, who chairs the Council’s Education Committee, developed the “Council member for a Day” challenge as a way for young people to become more involved in public policy issues and to learn about local government.

Council member Rice announced the winner at the Council’s Town Hall Meeting for Students reception at the Council Office Building on Oct. 5. The other finalists in the contest also were recognized at the reception.

This is the first year for the “Council member for a Day” challenge. Council member Rice asked high school students to submit YouTube videos or written essays answering one of the following questions:

• Why do you think Montgomery County is a great place to live and to get an education?
• What public policy issues are important to you?
• What can County Government do to get young people more interested in local issues?

Ms. Wu’s winning entry was an essay focused on diversified curriculum. Her essay can be read online.

“I’m always looking for new ways that the Council can help empower our young people to become more involved in public policy issues and more active in local government,” said Council member Rice. “This year, I decided it was time for the Council to do something more interactive with the young people we represent.”

Outreach for the contest was conducted through social media and in partnership with Montgomery County Public Schools.

“Since my office received nearly 100 entries from students, I hope this contest becomes an annual Council tradition,” said Council member Rice. “With two daughters of my own, I know that spending quality time with young people benefits you as much as it educates them.”

In addition to the winner Angela Wu, 10 other high school students were selected as finalists based on the quality and creativity of their entries. The other finalists were:

• Kimberly Nick (Northwest High School)
• Danielle Nwogu (Northwest High School)
• Tania Otero-Martinez (Seneca Valley High School)
• Ethan Paul (Montgomery Blair High School)
• Emily Pearce (Northwest High School)
• Matthew Pease (Richard Montgomery High School)
• Zeyi Qiu (Northwest High School)
• Jamal Sam (Gaithersburg High School)
• Bobbi Sherman (Magruder High School)
• Genevieve Tan (Northwest High School)

Photo courtesy of Pixabay