Two local high school students were chosen to represent their respective schools as members of the TCPS Board of Education for the 2018-2019 school year following an application and interview process. The students were officially sworn in during the September 19 Board Meeting.
Natasha Panduwawala attends Easton High School and has extensive leadership experience in her school community and beyond. She has served as President of the Latin Club, Key Club, and National Latin Honor Society. She served in Student Government as Treasurer for the class of 2019 during her sophomore and junior year and is a member of the National Honor Society, through which she volunteers as a Peer Tutor. This year she was elected President of the National Junior Classical League, an organization for middle and high school students in classical courses, and one of the largest academic youth organizations in the world.
Natasha has been active in Easton High’s Theatre and Choral programs and has played Warrior Lacrosse and Unified Bocce. She also attended the 2018 Youth Leadership Conference on Asian and Pacific Islander Health at Stanford University.
In 2016, while traveling to Sri Lanka for a wedding, Natasha learned of a tremendous need in her family’s home country for orthopedic aids for the less fortunate. Upon her return, she quickly acted and formed a non-profit to collect the needed supplies, and raised the funds to travel back to Sri Lanka to deliver them. She also provided donated school supplies to a Sri Lanka orphanage.
Natasha has received numerous awards, including the 2018 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, Rotary Youth Leadership Award,Carson Scholar Award, and the President’s Volunteer Service Award. She was a United States Achievement Academy Honoree, and has twice received the EHS Women of Tomorrow Certificate of Recognition.“I am absolutely thrilled and honored to be seated with the board members for this school year,” exclaimed Natasha. “Ever since my freshman year at Easton High, I have been curious about our school system and how the decisions of the Board of Education positively affect thousands of students as years go by,” she adds. “I pursued being the Student Rep because I could have the chance to see those decisions in action and represent Easton High School simultaneously.”
Lydia Shreves is a senior at Saint Michaels Middle High, where she actively participates in school clubs and organizations. She is President of Student Government and a Yearbook Editor and is the President of the National Honor Society. She has served on the Prom Committee, the African-American Alliance, Students Helping Other People, the Gay-Straight Alliance and was a member of the Destination Imagination Team Aero “DI”namics that travelled to the Global Finals competition in Nashville, TN.
Lydia is very active in Saints Athletics, playing field hockey, basketball and tennis. She has been team captain of the basketball team and was awarded Rookie of the Year, Offensive MVP and received the Saints Award.
Her community service activities include serving as a Character Counts Coach, and participating in Games on Wheels, the Six Pillars Century Bike Race, and Teen Court. “I became interested in this position because I am interested in not only actively participating in the Board of Education but also learning more about how it functions,” Lydia said. “I am looking forward to serving as St. Michaels’ student board representative as I hope to bring an authentic students’ perspective to the Board of Education this 2018-2019 school year!”
Natasha and Lydia will attend the monthly Board of Education meetings during which they will report to the Board on important happenings at their schools.
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