Board Student1: Outgoing student member of the Kent County Board of Education Alden Swanson receives a certificate of recognition Monday, June 8. From left are Superintendent Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas; board members Frank Rhodes and John Queen; Swanson's mother Robbi Behr; Swanson; board member Aretha Dorsey; Vice President Laura McKenzie; and President Trish McGee.
After being the first student to serve two years on the Kent County Board of Education, Alden Swanson officially passed the torch to incoming member Eamon Lindsay last month.
Swanson was named the student member of the board, or SMOB, during her junior year at Kent County High School and was re-elected by her peers for her senior year.
Having graduated this spring, as class valedictorian no less, she plans to attend Williams College in Massachusetts.
"I've learned so much about myself from being on this board: about working together and problem solving, asking good questions and how hard it really is to run a school system," Swanson said at her final board meeting Monday, June 8.
Dr. Mary Boswell-McComas, superintendent of Kent County Public Schools, presented Swanson with a certificate, recognizing her service to the board and commending her on her integrity and her work representing students.
President Trish McGee said Swanson has been a very strong member of the board. McGee said she watched Swanson's mother, Kent County High School alum Robbi Behr, grow up.
"And now I've watched you grow up," McGee told Swanson.
Swanson was congratulated by the other board members for her service. Board member John Queen frequently referred to her throughout the comments as the "SMOB GOAT" — greatest of all time.
Kent County High School senior Eamon Lindsay, seen here with Principal Kris Hemstetter, will officially take his seat as the student member of the Board of Education in July.
Kent County High School Principal Kris Hemstetter introduced Lindsay to the board as its newest member.
Hemstetter described him as "an outstanding student leader who has demonstrated a strong commitment to service, civic engagement and student advocacy."
"I am so incredibly honored and privileged to be accepting this nomination," Lindsay told the board.
McGee said she believes Lindsay will be a great board member.
McGee spoke about how Swanson followed a "rock star" of a student board member, Madison Messick, and carved her own path.
"You're going to create your own identity," McGee told Lindsay. "And in a year, we're going to be saying these exact same things about you.
Likewise, Swanson had words of encouragement for Lindsay.
"I'm really excited for you," Swanson told him at the meeting. "I think this is really a perfect position for you. I know you have such a big passion for student advocacy."
