Mihyar Alnifaidy wins SMOB election

Mihyar Alnifaidy, a junior at Springbrook High School, was elected the Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) for the 2002-2003 school year on April 24.

Alnifaidy was elected with a 70% majority vote of the total 56,900 high students who participated in the elections.

Alnifaidy will replace Dustin Jeter, the current SMOB and a senior at Seneca Valley High School, on July 1.

Alnifaidy's experience includes being class president during his freshmen and sophomore year, participating in lacrosse, football, and cross-country teams, B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S. (Brothers Out To Help Each Reach Success), the Montgomery County Region of the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MCR), and the Montgomery County Student Environmental Activists (MCSEA).

Social studies teacher David Swaney and his student teacher Jonathan Smith said their students ridiculed the nervous twitch of Alnifaidy's opponent, Alex Sellinger, during the videotaped interviews shown to students prior to the elections. Swaney and Smith attribute Alnifaidy's win against Walt Whitman student, Alex Sellinger, more to Alnifaidy's appearance than his message. "He came across as more comfortable on camera without any nervous ticks," said Swaney.

Alnifaidy's campaign promises include, first, to represent the views and suggestion of Montgomery County students. He also plans to stress recycling in all schools and support and encourage middle school students so they will have better success in high school. He plans to implement a double "A" exemption bill and lobby for more computers in schools and classrooms. He also encourages signature and magnet programs as well as increased parent involvement in school decisions. He also promises to "strive" for schools to offer more career-oriented courses that will give students more opportunities to succeed in the business economy.

According to social studies teacher Jeffrey Newby, only 68% of the Blair student population was given an opportunity to vote (See relevant story in the print edition of Silver Chips available May 23).

To read a Montgomery Gazette story praising Alnifaidy's diverse background, see Springbrook's school board candidate has international background, an article written in April by Terrie Heartley.
Mihyar Alnifaidy encourages students to contact him through his email at ATTi2ds@AOL.COM.