Seth Akins, McCoy grade 12 student, who has been selected for the education minister’s youth council

By Hayley Ferguson

McCoy senior to represent Medicine Hat students on education youth council

Oct 16, 2019 | 1:46 PM

Medicine Hat, AB – One Monsignor McCoy High School student will be representing his fellow Medicine Hat students as part of the education minister’s youth council.

Seth Akins, who is in Grade 12, will be joining 31 other junior and senior high school students in Edmonton to meet with Education Minister Adriana LeGrange next week.

There, the students and LeGrange will be able to discuss their concerns and hopes for education in Alberta.

Akins, whose mom is a teacher, said it was important for students to be consulted because they are who are affected the most.

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“It’s hard to switch perspective sometimes,” Akins continued. “The students are the ones experiencing the whole system. So we want to make sure we make the best decisions for them.”

Akins said it’s that interest in being apart of the decision making that caused him to apply for the council.

“I’ve always been interested in learning more about government so that’s kind of why. As well, having gone through the education system and at the top of it now, I have the experience,” he said.

As part of the application system, the McCoy student had to write a series of short essays.

“They were asking about how you contribute to your community.”

The council will meet for the first time from October 25 – 28.

“I’m pretty excited” Akins smiled.

The students on the council will serve 10-month terms aligning with the school year.

They will meet two more times in person in February and May as well as being part of different activities and webinars.