SENIOR RANNY MA is joining his classmate Micah Berman on the Illinois State Board of Education's Student Advisory Council. He was one of 11 students chosen out of 30 who applied this year. The new members of the council will be introduced to the state board at their first meeting in Springfield Sept. 19-20.

Berman was appointed to the Student Advisory Council last year when he was a junior.

Students may be as young as sophomores when they are chosen for the council, and they remain members until they graduate from high school.

To be considered, applicants should have student council/leadership experience, and the application consists of an essay in which they reflect on that experience and express their hopes for the future in Illinois high schools. For example, Ma’s essay spoke of diversity at Uni and his desire to spread diversity both at Uni and elsewhere.

After being appointed to the council, students meet in Springfield typically three or four times a year, and they choose an issue to focus on for that period.

“Last year, our group chose to tackle the ramifications of property-tax-funded schools as related to college readiness,” Berman said. “We looked at the differences between their course catalogs and discussed the different learning environments — including some students switching schools for a day to experience what life was like at a different type of school. We also noted that less school funding often led to completely inadequate funding for college counseling and preparation.”

After the students had finished their research, they presented their findings to ISBE and proposed the solution of an online forum that the state and teachers could use to communicate with one another.

Berman has found his experience as a member of the council extremely rewarding: The members of ISBE are extremely receptive to the council’s ideas, and he enjoys hearing and considering different points of view.

“I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet high school leaders from all kinds of different backgrounds from all across the state, and work with them on a project that can have real ramifications,” he said. “I'm really excited that Uni will now have two members on the council, and I look forward to working with Ranny this year!”

Ma himself is extremely happy to have been appointed to the council.

“I’m excited about working alongside other great students and making a positive change with the Illinois State Board of Education,” he said. “I felt I was in a good position to contribute to the advisory council because of my experience at Uni.”

Ma served on the Uni Student Council for both his sophomore and junior years.

He hopes to implement some of Uni’s elements of diversity with other schools, and feels confident that he will enjoy his time on the council.