by Mike Conroy
At the Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) Annual Meeting on March 22, Chioma Nwoye was installed as the first MVF Student Representative on the Board of Directors. The idea for the position came out of the 2017 Board Retreat, as part of the Board’s strategic goal of working closer with youth and the schools that serve the Village.
After an application process, review by the Nominating Committee and interview by the Board, Nwoye was chosen and will be present at meetings, serving actively in discussion. Although she will not be a voting member, she will bring to the table the voice and ideas of her peers for the Board to consider. In addition to the seat on the Board, Nwoye will serve as an intern in the MVF Office during the summer, gaining valuable insight on how the Board and staff work together to keep the community moving forward.
Nwoye, a junior at Watkins Mill High School, has been a resident of Montgomery Village since 2010, when her family moved here seeking a larger house in a community that was surrounded by amenities. Now, she realizes the full beauty of the Village—both physical and conceptual—and why her parents chose to make a home here. “I love how inclusive the community is. There’s something here for everyone. I love the lakes, trees and open spaces.” Her favorite part of the Village? The trails. Chioma enjoys running and walking with her family, spending time outdoors and being surrounded by the natural aspects of the community.
She appreciates the community opportunities that allow for more socialization beyond just seeing a friend or neighbor at a store. Events like the Pumpkin Race and July 4 Celebration are a great way to be active in the community. However, Chioma would like to see some other type of amenity come to the Village, like a roller skating rink, where people can go, be active, socialize and of course, listen to some great music (another one of her favorite pastimes).
She hopes to spend her time as Student Representative encouraging more Village youngsters to become involved and take pride in the community. Chiomoa says, “I feel if other youth have a better idea of what they can get out of the community—what it has to offer—they will have more pride in where they live and take better care of the community for the future.”
After high school, Chioma plans to attend college and major in Political Science; she hopes to work in government, maybe becoming a law maker herself. She is excited to get a start in that process with this position, hoping to gain a better understanding of how the organization makes decisions for the betterment of the Village.
You can see Chioma in the upcoming “What’s Your Story?” video in the next few weeks. Visit www.montgomeryvillage.com or watch for the update on our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MontVillageMD.