Students serve on a number of city boards, providing a youthful perspective to government officials while learning how to make an impact on their community.  

The first student served on the public library board in 1992, said Virginia Beach Planning Commissioner Walter Camp. In 2020, City Council started encouraging all the city’s commissions and boards to have student input. 

“This created an opportunity for students to learn, as well as express their voice and govern,” Camp said. “Now we more than 30 such positions.” 

 

Sadie Mixer, a senior at Kellam High School in the Environmental Studies program, served with students and working professionals on the Transition Area Interfacility Traffic Area Citizens Advisory Committee. 

“Through my work on this committee, I met some incredible student leaders who all had the same passion for making our city a better place,” she said. 

Tallwood High student Isabelle Chao is on the Flood Prevention Bond Referendum Oversight Board. 

I wanted to join the flood board because I really hadn’t had any experience or knowledge of how city government functions on the day-to-day,” she said. “I really wanted to gain experience and firsthand knowledge on how an average citizen like me could have an impact on something at the citywide scale.” 

Aubrey Moore is a Princess Anne High School student who serves on the Bayfront Advisory Committee. She and other students worked on the design of a “LOVE” sign that will be built off Shore Drive. 

It’s going to reflect a lot of different aspects of our community and create one culminating piece that will a great thing for tourism, highlight local business and showcase what we love about the area.” 

Princess Anne High student Ysabel Wells serves on the Active Transportation Advisory Committee is working on an interactive map of existing and proposed trails in the city. 

“As a student, I understand the importance of reliance on this trail network,” Wells said. “I understand the necessity of people my age of local trails and having access to safe, reliable transportation to where they need to go.” 

“We want student voices to help shape our community, a community they come back to after they go to college or after they start their careers,” said Dianna McDowell, a teacher with the VBCPS Environmental Studies Program. “We want this to be a city for the future.” 

To learn more, visit virginiabeach.gov or  watch this video produced by Kellam High School student Sadie Mixer.