The Oswego Village Board recently appointed its first high school student representatives to the Historic Preservation Commission and Cultural Arts Commission.
Trustees earlier this year approved an ordinance that outlines parameters of a new program intended to involve students from Oswego High School and Oswego East High School to serve as non-voting members on the village’s three commissions for one school year.
Brayden Beverwyk was named to the Historic Preservation Commission, while Annalise Schmitt was appointed to the Cultural Arts Commission.
Oswego Village President Ryan 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 of including one student from each high school on each of the three panels, village officials said.
Beverwyk in his application for the Historic Preservation Commission expressed interest in “preserving the history of Oswego,” and making a “lasting impression on his hometown,” Kauffman said in his introductions.
“As a student representative, Brayden hopes to spread the history of Oswego with his peers, residents and businesses,” Kauffman said.
Beverwyk is an Oswego High School sophomore. He is on the varsity soccer team, junior varsity tennis team and plays clarinet for the Oswego High School Symphony, officials said.
Schmitt was interested in serving her community on the Cultural Arts Commission via her creativity, positive energy and love for all forms of art, Kauffman said.
Schmitt is an Oswego East High School sophomore. She participates in Student Council, the Christian Club and Advancement Via Individual Determination or AVID, a nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the opportunity gap by preparing students for college, career and life, officials said. She has volunteered during the village’s annual Christmas Walk as well.
Students taking part in the program must live in the village and attend 75% of scheduled meetings. Students are expected to “actively participate” at the meetings, however, they will not have a vote on the panels. The terms will expire June 1, 2025.
There are four positions still available to Oswego students, village officials said – one each on the Cultural Arts Commission and Historic Preservation Commission, as well as two on the Economic Development Commission, village officials said in a report to trustees.
Staff coordinated another recruitment campaign for the program with School District 308 ending Nov. 1, with the intent to bring additional student representatives for the commissions to the Dec. 10 Village Board meeting for appointment.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.
