Whiz Kids: South River Senior Katharine Scruggs

Nominated by: Dr. Beverly Pish, executive director Accountability, Assessment, and Research

Whiz Kid's Name: Katharine Scruggs

Whiz Kid's Age: 17, senior at South River High School.

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment/Awesomeness: Scruggs, of Davidsonville, is the 2010-2011 student member of the Board of Education. Pish said that Scruggs has been "outstanding in the position."

Anne Arundel County is the only county in the nation that has a student member of the board of education with full voting rights. In addition, the student member is the only elected member of the Anne Arundel County board.

"She is the students' voice and asks intelligent questions at the board meetings of staff. Her personality is so welcoming and warm, no matter if you are in school or old like me!" Pish said. "This is one young lady that will go far and make South River High School and her hometown of Davidsonville proud in years to come!"

We asked Scruggs what made her run for the student Board position. She said that she has always been an avid reader and at the end of her junior year "went on a rant" about the kinds of books they were reading in English class at South River High School. 

"I figure if we want kids to read books, they should read good books that they’re interested in," Scruggs said. "So I was complaining about this to all of my friends, and mid-rant, an announcement came on the morning announcements that they were opening nominations for the student member on the board."

It was at that moment that Scruggs, who had never run for an elected position, decided to run. She went to a few of the meetings for CRASC (the Chesapeake Regional Area Student Council), and before long was one of the last students still interested in the position. She was elected to the post last summer.

Now Scruggs attends the twice-monthly Board of Education meetings, which can last all day and sometimes into the wee hours of the morning. In addition to the scheduled meetings, board members are frequently called on for school visits and public speaking engagements.

In addition to her board duties, Scruggs is also a 2011 Page in the Maryland State Senate during the legislative season (January through April). At South River, she is taking four Advanced Placement courses, and until the beginning of this school year, she was one of the assistant editors for the literary magazine. 

As for her insane schedule, Scruggs admits, "it’s been tough. 65 percent of the time I’m doing things for the board, 10 percent of the time I’m trying to sleep, and the rest of the time I’m trying to be a teenager."

As for getting the changes in the reading lists she originally sought, Scruggs said that she still has that on her radar, but now she has an obligation to represent all of the students at all of the schools in the county, and at the moment they are in the throes of budget season. She promises to get around to it before her term ends in June.