Rida Alvi, a junior at Annapolis High School, was elected by members of the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (CRASC) today to be the 2019-2020 student member of the Anne Arundel County Board of Education (SMOB).
Tyler Bailey and Charmi Patel, both South River High School students, were the other finalists for the position.
Rida’s name will be forwarded to Governor Larry Hogan, who must make the formal appointment. She would succeed current student member and Board Vice President Josie Urrea of Severna Park High School, whose one-year term expires in June.
Rida ran on a platform of equitable distribution of funding, mental health resources and awareness, and celebration of diversity.
“I am so happy to be working for the best county school system and more than excited to represent the student voice every day,” Rida said. “That is what I am here to do.”
Rida is a student in the International Baccalaureate Programme at Annapolis High School, and worked as a fellow for Maryland Speaker of the House Michael E. Busch last fall. She currently serves as Secretary of Legislation for CRASC, is a member of Superintendent George Arlotto’s Teen Advisory Council, and is president of Annapolis High’s International Night Committee. She also is chief of staff of the school’s Student Government Association and vice president of the Future Business Leaders of America club.
Upon appointment, Rida will become the 46th student member of the Board. Students have held a seat on the Board since 1974, when Andover High School’s Jeffrey Robinson served in an advisory capacity. Anne Arundel’s student member has had full voting rights since 1975, and is the only member of a local school board in the nation to have that status.
If appointed, Rida would assume her seat on July 1.
