The Student Member to the Board of Education of Charles County for the 2015-16 school year was recently chosen from among student leaders at Charles County’s seven public high schools. Pearson Benson, a rising junior at Westlake High School, will represent Charles County Public Schools students as the Student Board Member. He will be sworn in to his position at the Board of Education’s June 9 meeting.

Student candidates interested in being considered for the position are required to submit an essay regarding a student concern and possible solution. A committee composed of school system staff selects the student to work with the Board. The Student Board Member works with a committee of student liaisons, one student from each high school, throughout the school year. Each high school is required to have a student liaison, which is selected by methods approved by the school’s student government association (SGA) and principal.

The following students were chosen to serve as liaisons for their high schools:

  • Amanda Hobgood, rising senior, Henry E. Lackey High School;
  • T.C. Martin, rising senior, La Plata High School;
  • Michael Malherek, rising senior, Maurice J. McDonough High School;
  • De’Juon Washington, rising senior, North Point High School;
  • Paris Mercier, rising senior, St. Charles High School and alternate Student Board Member; and
  • Jessica Hoare, rising senior, Thomas Stone High School.


A liaison for Westlake High School will be chosen next month.

Student members of the Charles County Association of Student Councils (CCASC) also selected new officers for the 2015-16 school year. Representing the CCASC next school year are

  • Kiara Williams, rising senior, president, Westlake;
  • Joseph Perriello, rising junior, vice president, North Point;
  • Cole Smith, rising freshman, second vice president, North Point;
  • Shelby Lawanson, rising senior, secretary, Westlake;
  • Rabia Dhanani, rising senior, charity coordinator, Westlake; and
  • Wyatt Kirkpatrick, rising seventh grader, Matthew Henson Middle School.

Each year, CCASC officers are elected by student delegates in the spring. Schools develop their own methods for selecting CCASC student delegates. Each high school sends 15 delegates to monthly meetings; middle schools send up to 10 delegates. The CCASC is an organization consisting of student leaders from the county’s six high schools and eight middle schools. These students meet throughout the year to discuss issues and concerns, as well as provide input to school system leaders on programs and policies.