The Oswego Village Board recently appointed another high school student representative to the village’s Historic Preservation Commission plus two other students to the Economic Development Commission for the 2024-25 school year.
Trustees earlier this year approved a new program intended to involve students from Oswego High School and Oswego East High School in local government by letting them serve as non-voting members on the village’s three commissions for one school year.
Daiwik Muralidharan was named to the Historic Preservation Commission, while Brady Travis and Ryan Wilson were appointed to the Economic Development Commission.
Muralidharan’s application for the position stated he has a desire to learn about the operation of local government and in addition make meaningful connections in his community, Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman said in his introduction of the teens chosen for the commissions.
Muralidharan, an Oswego East High School sophomore, is involved in numerous extracurricular activities.
Travis stated in his application that he hopes to bring his “work ethic and collaboration skills” to the Economic Development Commission “to help build a strong foundation for future residents of Oswego.”
Travis is a junior at Oswego High School and is involved in athletics at the school.
Wilson expressed a desire to be “an active voice in his community” and “develop lifelong skills” in his application for a seat on the Economic Development Commission. Wilson, a sophomore at Oswego High School, wants to help the group bring new businesses to Oswego and support existing ones in the village.
Wilson is involved in extracurricular organizations and sports. Outside of school, he is a U.S. Navy Sea Cadet, Kauffman said.
Five out of six student positions on the commissions have been filled for the current school year. Village staff members plan to launch the 2025-26 school year program in May to give students the summer to apply, village officials said.
Kauffman suggested the idea as a way to give students “some real-world experience” and an introduction to “the nuts and bolts” of local government. Oswego-based School District 308 provided assistance to the village in the selection process of students and supported the idea, village officials said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
