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Northwest Student Declared Councilmember of the Day

Adjo Evonlah, a student at Northwest High School in Germantown, has won the Councilmember of the Day challenge. Councilmember Craig Rice created the contest to challenge students to “become more engaged in public policy issue, learn about local government and become more involved with the community.”

Evonlah is the fourth winner of Councilman Rice’s annual contest, challenging students to answer the question “what is the most important public policy facing young people today?” She wrote an essay focusing on juuling/vaping among high school students and she proposed to put an end to it by “creating legislation, through conversations, and through creating safe spaces.”

“The Councilmember for a Day challenge is a great way for our students to advocate for the issues they care about directly to the elected officials that serve them. This year’s winner, Adjo Evonlah, wrote her essay on the rising vape epidemic among youth, reflecting the community’s overwhelming concern on this issue and why the Council has recently introduced legislation to limit access to vape products for minors. I look forward to continue working with our young people and making strides to address their issues as reflected in this year’s Councilmember for a Day challenge and beyond,” said Councilmember Rice.

A press release published by the Montgomery County Council announced Evonlah’s win among nine finalists from Montgomery County Public Schools.

In addition, Angela Yu from Thomas S. Wootton High School placed second in the contest for her essay about lifting the heavy weight of student loans by creating pathways to scholarships for high school students, awarding grants to college graduates for achievements to pay off existing loans, and by providing better information about student loans to high school and college students. Also, Sarah Bagheri, a Cabin John Middle School student, came in third place with an essay focusing on “expanding health education to inform students of the effects of vaping/juuling.”

The other finalists were:

  • Omotola Fadeyi, Paint Branch High School, Entry Subject: school stress/mental health in school;
  • Jack Feldman, Bullis School, Entry Subject: pressure and stress of social media/phone use;
  • Darshini Babu Ganesh, Poolesville High School, Entry Subject: climate change;
  • Alex Landy, Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School, Entry Subject: gun violence in schools/the community;
  • Namya Nanda, Richard Montgomery High School, Entry Subject: child poverty;
  • Dhruv Pai, Montgomery Blair High School, Entry Subject: gun violence in schools/the community; and
  • Eleanor Sun, Bullis School, Entry Subject: opioids crisis/epidemic

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