May 2026 Bulletin

MASC is excited to chaperone a small delegation (students entering grades 8-12 in the fall of 2026) to the National Vision Leadership Conference! The conference is hosted by Pinkerton Academy in New Hampshire and the National Association of State Student Council Executive Directors (NASSCED).

Registration closes May 10, 2026. An advisor must register students as part of a school (and the school advisor must attend) OR join the MASC delegation.

The MASC delegation will arrive on June 21, attend the Sunday evening pre-conference social, and depart at the conclusion of the conference on Wednesday.

Graphics in this bulletin are links!

Calling all appointed staff, regional leaders, and passionate student leaders across Maryland! Join us for MASC’s last Executive Board meeting of the school year. Hear end-of-the-year reports from officers, staff, the state SMOB, and regional representatives, and help us recognize our seniors!

In addition, MASC will hear bid presentations for hosting the Fall Leadership Conference (November 2026) and/or the MASC Convention (April 2027) if any completed applications are submitted. We can’t wait to see your bids and ideas!

Interested in hosting a MASC Event in 2026–2027! Bids are open! Submit a formal presentation to host the Fall Leadership Conference or State Convention, or complete a simple application for the September Workshop Presenter Certification or December Executive Board Meeting. MASC will continue hearing bids at the May 16, 2026 Executive Board meeting!

Questions? Email MASC's executive director at Karen.Crawford@mdstudentcouncils.org

One final newsletter from our Special Issues Department for this school year!

Take a look back at the incredible work this team has accomplished and explore their goals and ideas for May. Thank you to all our readers for following along and supporting us throughout the year!

The Student Member on the Maryland State Board of Education gives students a voice in shaping education policy statewide. This year’s State SMOB, O’Marie Barnes of Crossland High School in Prince George’s County, is leading efforts to expand student engagement and amplify student voices.

Invite the SMOB to your school/event, sign up for the monthly newsletter, read the newsletter, share a concern or issue, or apply for the SMOB Advisory Council.

MASC is able to appoint two students to the Maryland Youth Advisory Council (MYAC) every year - serving a two year term. Must be 14 years old by September 1st - through rising juniors. Sorry, MASC cannot appoint a rising senior as this is a two year term.

Deadline: 5:00 p.m., June 15, 2026. Check out the website for details.

Stay up to date with the MASC calendar! Bookmark this webpage, which is updated throughout the year with new webinars and special events. Linked on the MASC website (events and conferences), this calendar will be updated throughout the year with webinars and other important events.

MLW is a residential experience designed to help young people recognize and realize their potential as leaders. Through a powerful and fun week of community-building, interactive workshops, and one-on-one coaching, delegates leave with the confidence & skills to make a real difference in their schools and communities.

Want to see MLW in action? Explore our impact and program experience in this brief overview slidedeck.

Applications are still open at mlw.org/apply. Programs are at 75% capacity — encourage your student leaders to apply today!

It's not too late to have your student leaders apply for this great recognition from the National Association of Student Councils (NASC):

• Distinguished Student Leaders: High School Students:
https://www.natstuco.org/leadership-development/distinguished-student-leader-program/
• Emerging Student Leaders: Middle School
https://www.natstuco.org/leadership-development/emerging-student-leader-program/

The NASC Handbook is an essential resource for student council advisers, offering practical guidance, templates, and best practices. From planning elections to organizing events and developing leaders, it provides step-by-step support to build a strong, effective, and inclusive council.. DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY and keep it handy all year long!

May and June can feel like survival mode. Student behavior shifts, online drama increases, and new challenges like AI continue to add complexity. At the same time, there is little room in your schedule for additional meetings or traditional professional development.

That is exactly why Digital4Good + #ICANHELP created the Spring Training Series (FREE!).

This is a fully on-demand set of webinars designed to support educators, administrators, and school teams with real strategies they can use right away. No scheduling. No extra meetings.

Inside the series, you will find practical tools to:

> Reduce online conflict and cyberbullying
> Support student well-being and social emotional growth
> Teach digital responsibility in a way that actually resonates
> Navigate AI use and ethics with clarity and confidence

You get:

> Four pre‑recorded sessions you can watch anytime
> Proven classroom management strategies to reduce online conflict and cyberbullying
> Actionable tools that support social emotional learning and student resilience
> Clear, school-ready frameworks for teaching digital citizenship
> Practical guidance on AI in education, including responsible student use
> Insight into AI ethics and how to lead meaningful conversations with students

You can watch at your own pace, share with your team, and start implementing immediately.

The Youth Service America has a lot of great resources and grants information centered around service – great for student councils, National Honor Society, and National Junior Honor Society. Check it out. If you don't subscribe to their briefings, sign up today!

Many advisors have reached out asking how MASC manages the Student Member of the Board (SMOB) and Officer elections. MASC uses ElectionBuddy to manage our state-level officer and SMOB elections. Whether you need a simple majority vote or a preferential ranking system for larger candidate pools, ElectionBuddy makes it easy to:

• Customize Ballots: Use multiple voting methods in one election.

• Increase Participation: Students can vote instantly via phone or laptop.

• Ensure Accuracy: Automated results save time and reduce errors.

The Lead4Change Core Curriculum is designed to help students develop essential life skills and apply them through powerful, real-world service projects. If you’re looking for a way to bring leadership to life in your classroom, Lead4Change provides a simple, flexible framework to help students take action on what matters most.

Explore their FREE curriculum!

Explore.Act.Tell. is a student-led service learning program that empowers young people to understand food insecurity, take meaningful action, and tell their stories to inspire others and enter to win a grant.

Grant Opportunities: The deadline for the grant competition is May 15th. We will be awarding numerous grants of up to $5,000 each to support and further student efforts to end hunger in their communities.

Already Working on a Project? If any of your educators have already completed a project this year focused on food insecurity, they are already done with the hardest part! Email me and our team can assist them with the final pieces needed for their submission so they can enter to win a grant to expand their impact.

Get Started This Spring: For those looking to start a new project this season, this linked flyer has more details and steps to get started.

Have you ever shopped at a thrift store? With spring cleaning approaching, your school can collect gently used items for a designated thrift store—and earn money at the same time. A FUNDrive® fundraiser requires no selling, just community donations, and schools typically earn around $600 while supporting their student programs.

Check out this two-page FLYER that quickly explains the program.

It's never too early - mark your calendar to attend the National Conference on Student Activities - so close in Pittsburgh, PA!

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A Parade of Ideas, the official NA4SA newsletter, is published several times a year and features national opportunities along with conference and training recaps. Click the graphic to view past issues, visit the webpage, and subscribe. (https://na4sa.org/newsletter/index.html)

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RESOURCES- One of the Operational Principles under the NA4SA Strategic Plan is to "Share Resources and Ideas". In particular, "we will become the primary national organization through which Student Activity professionals discover, collaborate, and share the valuable RESOURCES and IDEAS through which they develop the next generation of student leaders." You can always access these resources - by student activity advisors for student activity advisors!

MASC is happy to help spread the word for organizations looking for student representation and involvement. Check out the opportunities by clicking on the graphic above.

Two amazing webinars coming up -

Mental Health Month: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

7:00 p.m., Sunday, May 3, 2026

Let’s stop pretending we’re fine when we’re not. From burnout and anxiety to healing and asking for help, our student speakers will keep it honest about what they’ve faced — and what’s helped them get through it.

Internet Safety: Stay Smart, Stay Safe, Stay You

7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 7, 2026

The internet is your space to connect, create, and be seen — but it’s also where things can go sideways fast. We’re keeping it real about what it takes to stay safe online: protecting your data, setting boundaries, spotting red flags, and knowing what to do when something feels off. No fear tactics — just facts, tools, and student-led advice.

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Thank you to our incredible teachers for inspiring, supporting, and leading our students each day. You are appreciated!

Aside from the PTA Teacher Appreciation website (click on the graphic), Scott Bachovich (great motivational speaker - he's been our guest at MASC in past years) has these free, low-burden appreication ideas: CLICK HERE

Check out these scholarships....

College isn't for everyone - current high school seniors and non-traditional students interested in pursing an associate's degree or certificate program should check out this great scholarship.

To qualify for the Career and Technical Education scholarship, a applicant must:

• Have completed high school (or equivalency) by July 1
• Plan to attend a not-for-profit community college or trade/vocational school
• Enroll in an associate's degree, certificate, or diploma program by September that will lead to employment
• May not be enrolled in pre-requisite courses
• Be under the age of 35
• Be a United state citizen

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Students, parents, and college/career professionals are encouraged to tune in for information on creating a StudentAid.gov account, paying for college and career school, and avoiding financial aid scams

Do you need financial aid for college? Maryland College Aid Processing System (MDCAPS) is Maryland's Higher Education Commission's (MHEC) comprehensive financial aid system that allows the process of State scholarship applications and allocating of funds more efficiently using today's technology.

H2O for Life Mini-Grants - Rolling Deadline: These mini-grants of up to $500 are meant to be a supportive resource for teachers and students who want to kick-start their H2O for Life service-learning projects. Mini-grants will be awarded to assist teachers and students with the funds needed for their service-learning program.

Also - see the Youth Serve America (YSA) site - they always advertise service-related grants!

Follow MASC on Social Media

Don’t miss a thing! Follow MASC on social media for the latest updates, leadership opportunities, and student council highlights from across the state.

Support MASC by making a donation today. Your contribution helps expand leadership opportunities and programs for student councils across Maryland.

• If you are no longer an advisor, please email Karen Crawford at Karen.Crawford@mdstudentcouncils.org to be removed. If possible, include the name and contact information of the advisor who has replaced you.

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