Samantha Ross, a junior at Montgomery Blair High School, and Praneel Suvarna, a junior at Clarksburg High School, are the finalists for the 47th Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB). Elections will be held on Wednesday, April 17. From a pool of eight students, Ms. Ross and Mr. Suvarna were elected by more than 400 voting middle and high school delegates who attended the SMOB Nominating Convention at Watkins Mill High School.

Ms. Ross currently serves as a member of the MCPS Well-Being School Safety and Districtwide Wellness Committee, the Social Studies Curriculum Advisory Committee, and is Chief of Staff for the current SMOB Advisory Council. She has served on the Maryland Center for School Safety Student Focus Group and is a member of the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association.

Mr. Suvarna serves as the vice president of the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association and is the junior class president for his school. His experiences include working with the Student Advisory Mental Health Board and MoCo for Change. He is also a certified presenter with the Maryland Association of Student Councils.

SMOB candidates Ross and Suvarna.jpg