July 2026 Bulletin
Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC)
Reminder: Executive Board Contact Information Needed
MASC is updating its Executive Board contact list. Regional Presidents, 2nd Vice Presidents (Middle School Representatives), and Student Members on the Board of Education (SMOBs, SROBs, and Commissioners) serve as voting members of the MASC Executive Board and should ensure their contact information is on file.
Please click the graphic below to complete the Google Form (or your portion of the form) so MASC can keep you informed about Executive Board meetings, opportunities, and important updates throughout the year.
2027-2028 Conference & Event Hosts – Yes - 2027-2028!
Want to Bring a MASC Event to Your School or Staff the Convention in 2027–2028
Planning ahead? MASC is now accepting bids and applications for our 2027–2028 events! Schools interested in hosting are invited to submit a formal presentation for the Fall Leadership Conference (November 20, 2027), Legislative Session (January 29, 2028; snow date February 5, 2028), or State Convention (March 29–31, 2028).
Schools can also apply to host the September Workshop Presenter Certification (September 18, 2028) or the December Executive Board Meeting (December 11, 2027).
MASC will begin reviewing bids at the August 5, 2026 Executive Board Meeting, so now is the time to start planning!
Questions? Email MASC's executive director at Karen.Crawford@mdstudentcouncils.org
2026 MASC ADVANCE and Executive Board Meeting
August 3-5, 2026
Smith Center (Rockville, Montgomery County)
The Advance is a three-day event that includes:
Workshop presenter certification (Monday, August 3)
Workshop presenter conclusion and Fall Leadership Conference training and preparation (Tuesday, August 4)
The first Executive Board meeting of the school year (Wednesday, August 5)
Students register themselves for this event. An optional overnight stay (no charge) is available for the first two nights, featuring fun and engaging social activities.
Registration is now open and closes on July 24th OR when capacity is reached! So, don't wait until the last minute to register or you might only be on the waiting list.
IMPORTANT: IF YOU ARE ONY ATTENDING ON DAY 3 - the Executive Board meeting - you may register separately for that - do not use the "Advance Registration - use the August 5 Executive Board registration.
New this year, MASC will be able to take credit card payments for this event! Beat the long check-in line at the on-site check-in or the Executive Board meeting by paying with a credit card before the event!
Stay Connected with Your Student Member on the State Board of Education
Lorena Wu has officially begun her term as Maryland's Student Member on the State Board of Education (SMOB), and she wants to hear from students across the state! Whether you're interested in joining her Student Advisory Council, sharing an issue or concern, or inviting her to visit your school or event, there are many ways to get involved.
SMOB Advisory Council application closes at 11:59 p.m., Saturday, August 1st!
Click on Lorena's photo to visit the MASC homepage, where you can learn more and connect with her.
Never miss a MASC event or deadline! Update Your 2026-2027 Calendar NOW!
Looking ahead? Be sure to bookmark the MASC Calendar for the latest information on upcoming conferences, webinars, deadlines, and special events. The calendar is updated regularly throughout the year, making it your go-to resource for important MASC opportunities and announcements.
You can find the calendar on the MASC website under Events & Conferences.
MASC Membership NOW OPEN
By becoming a member, your school gains access to exclusive benefits, including:
Discounted conference registration
Eligibility for awards and recognition
Voting rights for your student council at the state level
And so much more!
Read our FLYER to learn why your school should be part of MASC.
Bring the MLW Experience to Your School!
As you begin planning for the 2026–2027 school year, consider bringing Maryland Leadership Workshops (MLW) to your campus. For more than 70 years, MLW has helped student leaders develop the skills, confidence, and connections needed to make a difference in their schools and communities.
Through MLW Outreach, schools can host a customized workshop, half-day program, or full-day leadership experience designed specifically for student councils and student organizations. These peer-led programs bring the energy and impact of the MLW experience directly to your students.
Interested in scheduling an MLW Outreach program for next year? Click the graphic to learn more and get started. Questions? See the flyer below and contact Brett at bmorales@mlw.org
Congratulations to Gavin Falcón, appointed by the National Principal Association to serve as MASC's representative to the National Student Council for 2026-2027!
Gavin is currently serving on MASC's appointed staff as the student member on the Maryland Center or School Safety's Advisory to the Subcabinet and serving his third year as the regional advisor for the Howard County Association of Student Councils (HCASC). Read his bio on the Legislative Departments "About Me" webpage.
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Recognize student leadership excellence through these award and recognition opportunities offered by 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/
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Save the Date for the 2027 Lead Conference!
Planning ahead for leadership opportunities? The 2027 LEAD Conference will be held February 26–28, 2027, at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C. This nationally recognized event brings together more than 2,000 student leaders and advisors from across the country for a weekend of leadership development, networking, and inspiration.
Registration is expected to open in early Fall 2026 and fill quickly, so now is a great time to begin discussing attendance with your student leaders and administration.
Students may attend with their school advisor or for students whose advisors are unable to attend, MASC organizes a delegation so students can still participate in this outstanding leadership experience. Check out the MASC website (click the graphic) and see additional details on the official LEAD website.
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Last Chance: Free Spring Training Series Ends July 31!
Don't miss this opportunity to access the Digital4Good + #ICANHELP Spring Training Series at no cost.
Available only through the end of July, this fully on-demand webinar series provides practical strategies for educators, administrators, and school teams facing today's challenges, including student behavior, online conflict, and the growing impact of AI.
The best part? You can participate on your own schedule—no meetings to attend and no additional time commitments.
Act quickly! Access to this free professional learning opportunity ends July 31.
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 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!
FUNDrive: Fundraising for your School
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.
Premier Student Leadership Resources for Advisors!
There's Still Time to Join the Summer Workshop!
11:30 a.m - 2:45 p.m., Saturday, August 15, 2026 – Only $25!
Looking for fresh ideas before the new school year begins? Join fellow activity advisors for a few hours of practical professional learning, networking, idea sharing, and fun.
Unlike the larger NA4SA National Conference, the Summer Workshop is a virtual experience designed for smaller-group interaction and focused learning. Sessions emphasize strategies, activities, and resources that you can implement immediately with your student leaders and organizations.
You'll leave with new connections, renewed energy, and a collection of ready-to-use ideas to help make the upcoming school year your best yet.
And remember - It's never too early - mark your calendar to attend the National Conference on Student Activities - so close in Pittsburgh, PA! December 4-6, 2026. Let's get at least five advisors for a great discount: Always use KC26MD when registering!
- Early Bird (8/15/2026 to 10/31/2026) - $390
- Group (5 or more from the same school or State Association, up to 10/31/2026) - $370
- Regular (11/1/2026 to 11/15/2026) - $420
- Late/On-Site (after 11/15/2026) - $440
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A Parade of Ideas, the official NA4SA newsletter, is published several times a year and features a national opportunities along with conference and training recaps. Click the link to view the latest newsletter, 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!
Nominate A Digital Do-Gooder! Celebrate On-Line Positivity!
As our world becomes increasingly digital, we must remind ourselves of how important solidarity and humanity are. #ALLRISE2Help is a reminder to support, uplift, and rise up with each other to create a healthy environment for ourselves and others on social media.
Do you know a student who is spreading online positivity? Making their online space a place to feel welcomed? Doing good things for others and not asking for anything in return? Let us know so they can receive a special gift from Yankee's right fielder, Aaron Judge!
Brought to you by: Digital4Good + The Aaron Judge All Rise Foundation
Youth Serve America
Check it out - Youth Serve America (YSA) compiled its annual list of "Summer of Service" programs, events, and opportunities that you can participate in this summer. Click on the graphic to see all of the great opportunities!
Begin the new school year ready to engage, inspire, and empower your student leaders.
Invest a few hours this summer and start the school year with a full toolbox of ideas, activities, and leadership strategies.
• Teen Truth: https://teentruth.net/back-to-school-activities-middle-high-school/
• Scott Bachovich: https://mdstudentcouncils.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/SEPTEMBER-Project-Ideas.pdf
• Let's Cultivate Greatness: https://letscultivategreatness.com/25-back-to-school-spirit-ideas-perfect-for-your-student-council-25/
• General Ideas Presented at Cada: https://secure.cada1.org/files/resource_library_files/Tharp_200+MustHaveIdeas1.pdf
State Senatorial and Delegate Scholarships
The Maryland Senatorial Scholarship and the Maryland Delegate Scholarship is offered to Maryland residents who plan to pursue a postsecondary credential full-time (12+ credits undergraduate or 9+ credits graduate per semester) or part-time (6-11 credits undergraduate or 6-8 credits graduate per semester) at a two-year or four-year Maryland college, university or private career school.
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.
Invest in the Next Generation of Leaders
Important Information
• 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.
• If you ONLY received the bulletin via a forwarded message and would prefer to receive it directly, please sign up using the link below. Students - you must use a PERSONAL EMAIL, not a school-issued email.
Click on the graphic above read archived MASC Bulletins.