Christopher Blair has another appointment to mix into the whirlwind of activity that is his life as a senior at Catonsville High School.

Superintendent Joe Hairston appointed Blair and seniors from Dulaney, Hereford, Lansdowne and Woodlawn high schools and from the Carver Center for Arts and Technology magnet high school to his 2011-2012 Student Advisory Board.

"The ability to actually talk with the superintendent of Baltimore County Schools is an opportunity most students don't have," said Blair, 17, who added he was thrilled just to be nominated. "It let's you help make suggestions that are going to be put in place that will affect everyone in the county."

Hairston has appointed a Student Advisory Board each year since 2004, according to a release from Baltimore County Public Schools.

Each year, the president of the Baltimore County Student Councils and the student member on the Baltimore County Board of Education is chosen, along with four students selected from county high schools on a rotating basis, said Phyllis Reese, a spokeswoman for Baltimore County Public Schools.

"The time I spend with our students helps me maintain clarity of mission," Hairston said in the release. "I work from a stronger position when I hear directly from them."

Hairston meets monthly with the board to connect with students and hear their insights into the needs, concerns and interests of their peers, the release stated.

Hairston, who plans to retire at the end of the year, started serving as the superintendent when the students on his advisory board began kindergarten.

Blair said the board had its first meeting with the superintendent earlier this month.

Despite his performances as president of the school's speech and debate team, captain of the It's Academic team and varsity lacrosse team, Blair said he had butterflies entering the meeting.

"I was nervous, but it wore off pretty quickly," Blair said. "It turned out really well. Everyone seemed like me in that they seemed motivated and ambitious."

Among the topics the board discussed at the first meetingwere ways to increase the number of National Merit Scholar semifinalists and finalists, availability of defibrillators on athletic fields and consistent AP class sizes between schools.

Catonsville High School Principal Deborah Bittner said Blair's appointment to the board is the school's first since she became principal five years ago.

Bittner added Blair's unique perspective makes him a good choice to advocate for Baltimore County's students.

"He's just a very well-rounded young man, and he has a really solid head on his shoulders," Bittner said. "He'll be very good listener to absorb all the information. He also has a very broad view of student life in Catonsville."

In addition to his skills, Bittner has witnessed Blair keep a level head in the face of adversity.

One of Blair's It's Academic events came down to the final question and a malfunctioning buzzer cost Blair and his team the victory, Bittner recalled. Despite the confusion and frustration of the loss, Blair and his teammates congratulated the other team on its victory.

"It meant as much to me for those young men to accept that defeat in the fashion they accepted it," Bittner said comparing the moment to a victory. "When I think of Christopher, I think of a true gentleman."

Blair said he plans to utilize his skills, especially ones he gained on the debate team, to see all sides of an issue and then make suggestions .

A National Merit semifinalist, Blair wants to study either international relations or political science in college, he said.

Since he will be out of the Baltimore County Public School system next year, whatever changes Blair helps to bring will likely not affect him.

"The suggestions and the plans that they draw up this year are going to be used by later years," Blair said. "I definitely think it's a good legacy to leave behind."