TOWSON, MD—Carmelli Leal, a junior at Eastern Technical High School, has been elected president of the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) for 2020 – 2021.

Leal is a student leader at the national, state, county, and school level. Nationally, she is a member of the Student Leadership Advisory Committee of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and a Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Ambassador. At the state level, she is a certified workshop presenter and special issues director for the MASC and vice-chair of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council.

In Baltimore County, Leal serves as legislative director for Baltimore County Student Councils. Her leadership roles at Eastern Tech include being active in the school’s Student Government Association and Future Business Leaders of America organization.

In her personal statement as a candidate for the MASC presidency, Leal wrote: “Since I stepped foot in my first middle school student council meeting, I was enraptured by the idea of being able to make a change. At first, it was just helping to decorate our school’s Spring Fling or sitting with someone who typically sat alone at lunch. Now, in my six years of student government, I realize the influence that students have when they come together. Through MASC, I have had the privilege of meeting hundreds of students from around the state – many of whom I have had the pleasure working with to present workshops, testify at the State Board of Education, and advocate on Capitol Hill. I want to continue working with the students of Maryland to make tangible differences in education by empowering students and helping them realize their true potential.”

Currently ranked first in her class, Leal is enrolled in Eastern Tech’s information technology network pathway CISCO magnet program. She has been inducted into the National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society, and Science National Honor Society. She is also an award-winning volunteer at the Baltimore Veteran Affairs Medical Center, a volleyball manager, and member of Eastern Tech’s jazz band.