Hana O’Looney, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School, has been elected the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2021-2022 school year. Ms. O’Looney’s term begins on July 1, 2021.

All secondary students were eligible to vote virtually in the SMOB election and nearly 33,000 students cast ballots. Ms. O’Looney received 78.3 percent of the vote, while her opponent, Henry Kaye, a junior at Richard Montgomery High School, received 21.3 percent. This SMOB election was held remotely on April 22–23 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Ms. O’Looney serves as vice president of the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association, and as chair of MoCo EmpowHER. She has also served as president of Montgomery County Junior Councils (MCJC), the countywide middle school student government; on the MCPS District Assessment Committee and on the Systemwide Wellness Committee.

The SMOB is a voting member of the Montgomery County Board of Education. The SMOB can vote on matters related to collective bargaining, capital and operating budgets, and school closings, reopenings and boundaries. The SMOB cannot vote on negative personnel actions. The SMOB is not paid, but does receive a $5,000 college scholarship, Student Service Learning hours, and one honors-level social studies credit.

Ms. O’Looney will replace Nick Asante, a senior at Richard Montgomery High School, who will graduate in June.

For more information, visit the Student Member of the Board website.