June 2026 Bulletin

Graphics in this bulletin are links!

Congratulations to the new student leaders in your region. The regional president, 2nd vice president (middle school representative), and the student member on the Board of Education (SMOB, SROB, Commissioner) hold voting positions on the MASC executive board in accordance with their respective roles. To stay informed, MASC needs contact information for these new leaders.

Please complete the Google Form (or your part of the form) by clicking on the graphic, so MASC can add you to our Executive Board contacts.

Interested in hosting a MASC Event in 2027–2028? Yes 2027-2028! Bids are open! Submit a formal presentation to host the Fall Leadership Conference (November 20, 2027), Legislative Session (January 29, 2028 - snow date February 5, 2028), or State Convention (March 29-31, 2028), or complete a simple application for the September Workshop Presenter Certification (September 18, 2028) or December Executive Board Meeting (December 11, 2027). MASC will start hearing bids at the August 5, 2026 Executive Board meeting!

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

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.

August 3-5, 2026

Smith Center (Rockville, Montgomery County)

The Advance is a three-day event that includes:

• Workshop presenter certification

• Fall Leadership Conference and Legislative Session training and preparation

• The first Executive Board meeting of the school year

Students register themselves for this event. An optional overnight stay is available for the first two nights, featuring fun and engaging social activities.

Registration opens July 1st 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.

New this year, MASC will be able to take credit card payments for this event! Beat the long check-in line at the Advance by paying with a credit card before the event!

Advisors – Mark your calendars and join MASC early!

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.

Congratulations to these Maryland Students who were elected to the National Student Council for 2026-2027!

> Sam Park - Vice President of Communications (Eastern Technical HIgh School, Baltimore County)

> Anderson Louis Jay - middle level representative (Perry Hall Middle School, Baltimore County)

Read about these two outstanding student leaders HERE.

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It's not too late to have your student leaders apply for these great recognitions 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/

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Join the National Association of Student Councils (NASC) for 2026-2027

NEW Membership or RENEW Membership

NASC is a vital resource for students, advisers, administrators, and the entire school community.

• Comprehensive Leadership Development

• Resource Hub at Your Fingertips

• Nationwide Network of Support

• Recognition and Motivation

• A Voice in National Conversations

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Mark your calendars for the 2027 LEAD Conference, taking place February 26–28, 2027 in Washington, D.C. This premier event brings together more than 2,000 students and advisors from the National Association of Student Councils and National Honor Societies for a weekend of leadership training, networking, and inspiration. Held at the Washington Hilton, the conference offers a variety of sessions designed to empower student leaders and enhance chapter and council effectiveness. Registration opens in early Fall 2026.

Students must attend with their school advisor OR MASC will also be taking a delegation of students for school advisors who cannot attend. Look for details on the MASC website.

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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!

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:

You get:

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

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!

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.

NA4SA Summer Workshop!

11:30 a.m - 2:45 p.m., Saturday, August 15, 2026 – Only $25!

Join other activity advisor for several hour of hands-on training, networking, idea sharing, and good old-fashioned FUN! The Summer Workshop is different than the NA4SA National Conference (see below) as it is a virtual event that is more intimate and focused on specific skills, ideas and activities that you can take and use right away. You'll leave the Summer Workshop invigorated, excited, and loaded with new ideas to bring back to your school - just in time for a new school year

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!

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.

Eco MoCo is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping our environment, with three main pillars: education, stewardship, and advocacy.

Headquartered in Montgomery County, Eco MoCo spearheads initiatives such as trash cleanups, tree plantings, advocacy days, and much more. Applications are open to all students in Maryland, from rising middle schoolers to rising seniors! Click on the graphic to apply by 11:59 p.m., Sunday, June 7th.

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 - including several that provide ways to get involved in celebrating and strengthening American democracy as we celebrate America's Semiquincentennial (America 250) on July 4. Click on the graphic to see all of the great opportunities!

Get a head start on the September back-to-school and other activities.

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

The Service Year Option program provides recent Maryland high school graduates, GED recipients, or those who have earned a high school completion certificate the opportunity to spend at least nine month with partnering organizations that support their growth and development. In turn, the opportunities provided strengthen Maryland's workforce and expand the state's employment.

The Maryland Corps program shares those same goals and aims to recruit more seasoned individuals looking to pivot in their careers or re-enter the workforce.

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

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.

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.

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