The Student Climate Action Council (SCAC)

The Student Climate Action Council (SCAC) is a council of 14 students working with MCPS to represent clusters of the county to advance sustainability initiatives and create a greener school system by holding MCPS accountable for their climate goals.

About Us
Meet the Council Members
Get Involved
News and Updates

About the MCPS Student Climate Action Committee (SCAC)

About The Student Climate Action Council (SCAC)

OUR VISION is to create an entirely Green school system, increase the number of innovative sustainability projects, and allow the creative students of MCPS to be given a chance to enact their ideas, for a better, and safer environment.

OUR MISSION is to help foster innovative sustainability projects created by the students of MCPS. Students who make up the council represent different clusters throughout MCPS giving a better perspective on the problem of sustainability and allowing proper insight into what’s happening in these clusters. SCAC works to ensure that MCPS is fully represented, and has an opportunity to fund student ideas. This council will review and discuss grant applications to ensure our funding goes towards innovative ideas that help tackle climate change effectively in a local community.

Meet the
Council Members

LOWER NORTH

Northwest, Quince Orchard, Gaithersburg, and Seneca Valley Clusters

Peter Boyko →

Hi! My name is Peter Boyko (he/him), I am a rising sophomore at Northwest High School and I represent the Lower North region with Maggie. Some of my hobbies include theater, tennis, and taking long hikes. This year I am looking forward to advancing sustainability policy in MCPS and expanding the platform of the SCAC.

Maggie McNulty →

Hi everyone! My name is Maggie McNulty and I use she/her pronouns. I am a rising senior at Northwest High School and I am so excited to be representing the Lower North region! In my free time, I enjoy rock climbing, spending time outdoors, and reading. I can't wait to mobilize the 160k students of MCPS to take strides to deliver a more mindful, sustainable future.

UPPER NORTH

Watkins Mill, Poolesville, Clarksburg, and Damascus Clusters

Faith Nah →

Hi! My name is Faith Nah (she/her) and I am a senior at Poolesville High School. I represent the Upper County area. In my free time I enjoy reading, running, and writing. I am looking forward to advocating to ensure our county’s decision makers are held accountable for the long term sustainable AND equitable goals that have been promised to future students… through collectivizing the power of student voice.

Cindy Bagheri →

Hello! My name is Cindy Bagheri (she/her), I am a rising 10th grader at Clarksburg High School, and I represent the Upper North area! During my free time, I enjoy traveling, baking, playing volleyball, and advocating for women’s rights. I am looking forward to working with both the students and our county policymakers to strive for an overall green school system by supporting impactful sustainability projects.

CENTRAL

Richard Montgomery, Rockville, Sherwood, and Colonel Zadok Magruder Clusters

Walter Sha →

Hey! My name is Walter Sha (he/him) and I will be representing the central area. I am a rising sophomore at Richard Montgomery High School. Some of my hobbies include tennis, listening to music, and cooking. I'm really looking forward to seeing all the climate-related ideas you guys have!

Celestia Krubally →

DCC

Montgomery Blair, Northwood, Wheaton, Albert Einstein, and John F. Kennedy Clusters

Nikhita Bhatt →

Hello! I'm Nikhita Bhatt (any pronouns), a rising junior at Blair High School and I represent the DCC area. I love student advocacy, and some of my other passions include music and science. This year I am looking forward to helping fund amazing student environmental work across the region :)

Raj Awasthi →

Hi! My name is Raj Awasthi (he/him), I'm a rising Freshman at Montgomery Blair High School, and I represent the DCC area! Some of my hobbies include painting, playing tennis, and videogames! This year, I'm really looking forward to working alongside all the other Councilmembers to create a cleaner and greener future together!

NEC

James Hubert Blake, Springbrook, and Paint Branch Clusters

Mia Minus →

Hi everyone! My name is Mia Minus (she/her) and I am a rising senior at James Hubert Blake High School. I will be representing the NEC area. Hobbies of mine include competitive dance, listening to music, and reading. I am looking forward to meeting so many new people from all around the county who share a passion for preserving our environment! I can not wait to meet you all and work together to make sustainability a reality everywhere!

Angela Rivera →

Hello! My name is Angela Rivera, I am a rising senior at Paint Branch High School, and I represent the NEC area. I go by she/her pronouns. Some of my hobbies include drawing, crafting, and reading. This year, I look forward to making a change with the climate action council and seeing new things we can create.

WEST

Thomas S. Wootton, Winston Churchill, BCC, Walt Whitman, and Walter Johnson Clusters

Lumina Zhang →

Hi everyone! My name is Lumina Zhang (she/her), and I am a rising junior at Winston Churchill High School. I represent the West area and am excited to connect with the students in my region. Some of my hobbies include playing piano, creating projects in student government, and hosting events with my organization, Eco MoCo! This year, I am looking forward to implementing the first SCAC grant program and supporting student sustainability projects.

Antonio Persi →

Hey! My name is Antonio Persi (he/him), and I am a rising senior at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School, representing the West area of MCPS. I love spending time out with friends, meeting new people, and sewing and designing (amongst many other hobbies). One thing you should know about me is I consider myself a D1 Scrabble player, and am always looking to play! This year I am looking forward to educating as many MCPS students about the dangers of climate change, and the promises we have already made as a county to reach net zero emissions. Let's hold MCPS accountable together!

AT-LARGE

Montgomery County (as a whole)

Megan Stallard →

Hi! My name is Megan Stallard (she/her). I am a rising freshman at Poolesville High School, and I'm an At-Large Councilmember, so I will be helping out with some of the larger areas as well as working on county-wide projects. Some of my hobbies are hiking, reading, and rock climbing. I am SO excited to be a part of the SCAC, and I'm looking forward to learning about the AMAZING student sustainability projects that you all come up with!

Quinley Borden →

Hi, I’m Quinley Borden (he/him). I will be an at-large member of the SCAC. I’m a rising 9th grader at Richard Montgomery High School. Some things I like to do include hiking, playing soccer, running, as well as playing piano & violin. I’m very excited to work on the Student Climate Action Council and help get MCPS to be a zero emissions school system.

Get Involved

Become an Ambassador

Ever wanted to get involved on a county-level to advocate for the environment?

GOOD NEWS! As a Climate Ambassador, you can represent your school on a county-level within the SCAC. With the Council’s support, you will be able to assist sustainability projects at your school and voice your concerns about the environment to create real change.

Applications are due on 11/20/23.

Apply Now!

Apply for
a Grant

Do you have an environmental project that needs funding?

Fund your environmental project TODAY with the SCAC grants program!

Applicants can apply for up to $3,000! Grants are open to current MCPS students in grades 6-12, however, applicants must have an adult advisor.