Feature Photo: Students Swear In For Year of City Service

Let's hear it for the next generation of Birmingham's leaders.

Nine students from and high schools were appointed to Birmingham's various boards and commissions as non-voting members at the Monday night City Commission meeting.

Each student will serve a one-year term on everything from the Traffic and Safety Board, to the Public Arts Board. They are asked to perform all duties of an appointed adult representative, including participating in discussions and helping shape decisions by lending a young person's perspective.

Each student was chosen based on an application, essay and letters of recommendation. 

The 2012 representatives are:

• Kate Leary (Planning Board)
• Erin Brown (Historic District Commission)
• Kendal Tamler (Historic District Study Committee)
• Anna Collins (Parks and Recreation Board)
• Daniel Maertens (Parks and Recreation Board)
• Haley Gumenick (Public Arts Board)
• Hunter Kurepa-Peers (Public Arts Board)
• Jacqueline Smith (Traffic and Safety Board)
• Dana Smith (Museum Board)

Commissioners also recognized the 2011 student representatives, including:

• Kristen Thut (Planning Board)
• Hailee Schuele (Historic District Commission)
• Thomas Fink (Parks and Recreation Board)
• Christy Wells (Parks and Recreation Board)
• Corrin Hepburn (Parks and Recreation Board)
• Lauren Hall (Public Arts Board)
• Sophie Mendel (Public Arts Board)
• Sarah McBride (Public Arts Board)
• Ryan Graham (Traffic and Safety Board)
• Jasper Apollonia (Museum Board)
• Samuel Cusimano (Historic District Study Committee)
• Rebecca McCurley (Historic District Study Committee)