Hereford High School senior Olivia Keithley has accomplished what no other Baltimore County student has: a three-year reign as president of the Baltimore County Student Councils after being the only sophomore ever elected president in 2009.
Keithley uses her gavel to begin the Student Councils' monthly 21-member executive board meetings, as well as six general assembly meetings attended by as many as 200 students.
She and other board members attend conferences statewide and meet with local and state officials on behalf of county students. She has served on numerous committees and panels, including Gov.Martin O'Malley's Summit on Education.
"I've never had a problem being up on stage and talking in front of an audience," she said. "I've learned a lot about time management and I've gotten to work with students from all over. I have a very diverse group of friends now."
The Student Councils group tackles issues like expanding Chinese classes into all middle and high schools or making sure each school joins in recycling efforts.
It helped the county's office of Food and Nutrition look at getting healthier food into schools. The Councils' members completed surveys about cafeteria food and Keithley arranged for Hereford High School students to sample more nutritious entrees, snacks and beverages.
"Olivia is passionate and enthusiastic about everything she pursues," said Barbara Fuller, coordinator for the Baltimore County Student Councils. "It is a huge commitment, but she is a great example of a student who can balance family, school and her own interests."
Fuller said the Maryland Association of Student Councils created a paid position for Keithley as coordinator of student leadership workshops.
Keithley also spent the last three years meeting with schools superintendent Joe Hairston as a member of the Student Advisory Board.
She and five other students, all appointed by Hairston, meet monthly. He asks their opinions on everything from ways to improve communications between guidance departments and students, to what they think of Advanced Placement and Gifted and Talented classes.
"You can be perfectly honest," Keithley said. "He really wants to know what we think."
She has been involved with the search for a new superintendent since Hairston will retire in June after 12 years. She spent an hour with members of the search firm, Hazard, Young, Attea & Associates, and gave a student's opinion on qualities of a new superintendent.
The Parkton student is taking five Advance Placement courses this semester and is waiting to hear from the eight colleges to which she applied. In her free time, Keithley, who has a 3.8 grade-point average, plays violin, and dances.
"I like to keep busy and I don't get a lot of sleep, but that's OK," she said. "I went to my first leadership conference when I was in middle school and I kept going when I learned how much you can develop as a person."