Douglas Co. High-Schooler to Serve on Student Advisory Committee

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Douglas County School System press release

Lithia Springs High School student Alexander Nichols is among 64 Georgia students selected by State School Superintendent Richard Woods to serve on the 2015 Student Advisory Committee.

Throughout the school year, these middle and high school students will meet with Superintendent Woods to discuss the impact of state policies in the classroom. Members of the Student Advisory Council will also discuss other issues related to education, and will serve as the Superintendent’s ambassadors to their respective schools.

“Alexander Nichols (Alex) is an outstanding student and school community member here at Lithia Springs High School (LSHS),” said Principal Dr. Garrick Askew. “Alex served previously on former State School Superintendent Dr. Barge’s Student Advisory Council and we are pleased to see that he has been selected to serve on Superintendent Woods’ Student Advisory Council.

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“As with his previous appointment, Alex knows that selection to Superintendent Woods’ Student Advisory Council is a great privilege and an honor. With that knowledge and all of the wonderful abilities and characteristics that he possesses, I know that Alex will continue to represent himself, the school, and the community in exemplary fashion,” Dr. Askew concluded.

“It is essential, as we work to develop child-focused, classroom-centered policies, to hear directly from students,” Superintendent Woods said. “These students feel the impact of our decisions every day and, if we’re going to improve their educational experience, we have to bring them to the table.”

Members of the 2015 Student Advisory Council were selected from a pool of more than 1,000 students who applied to serve on the council. Students were chosen based on the strength of their essay answers, which focused on their ideas for public education and ways their own educational experience could be improved.

Alexander is enrolled in the school’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Academy. He is currently ranked 2nd in his class with a 4.0 Grade Point Average. While at Lithia, Alexander has taken the most rigorous course work available including many AP and honors courses. Last year he was awarded Outstanding Achievement Awards in honors Chemistry and Marketing Principles and received a Gold Card for academic excellence.

The junior is involved in many extracurricular activities and clubs. He currently holds the office of Vice President in National Honor Society, secretary in the BETA club. Alexander is also President of DECA and secretary of FBLA. He holds the office of historian for the Key Club and is class secretary for the junior class. He is also Co-Captain of the cross country team and a member of the Varsity track team.

Outside of school, Alexander has been involved with several internships. He has interned at the Atlanta Zoo and the Georgia Aquarium where he learned about animal husbandry, diet preparation and ecology. He studied abroad in the Galapagos Islands where he gained field experience, listened to lectures, explored biodiversity, and collected data.

Alexander also participated in the University of Georgia’s Young Dawg Laboratory Internship in the field of freshwater ecology. In this program he was able to gain laboratory experience and conduct research on the collegiate level. He has also been chosen for and participated in many forums and programs such as the Atlanta John Marshall Pipeline program, Clark Atlanta University Leadership Forum, and Youth Leadership Douglas. Alexander plans to major in both Biological Engineering and Chemistry and minor in Science education. He plans to become a professor and researcher.

“It was hard to narrow down the many outstanding applications, but it was refreshing and valuable to read these students’ feedback and ideas for the future of our educational system,” Superintendent Woods said. “I’m thrilled to work with the members of my Student Advisory Council, and I’d like to thank every student who took the time to apply and share his or her thoughts.”

Meetings of the Student Advisory Council will be held February 27, March 11 and April 28 at the Georgia Department of Education’s offices in Atlanta.

(Photo: DCSS)