SALISBURY, MD—First-year Salisbury University student Chad Leo of Solomons, MD, initially got involved with student government in sixth grade. He rose through the ranks into Patuxant High School’s Student Senate and eventually was elected treasurer of the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC).
“My initial desire for free pizza [a perk for attending student government meetings] turned into a true love of advocacy, justice and C-SPAN bingeing,” Leo joked.
His service and advocacy in various roles as a student have earned him the University’s inaugural Lead from the Front scholarship, a new institutional financial aid award championed by SU President Charles Wight.
At Wight’s request, Lead from the Front was created to recognize incoming SU students who have a demonstrated record of acting as change agents within their communities and fostering student civic engagement.
At SU, Leo plans to major in political science while also getting involved with the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) and the Honors College.
“When Chad joins an organization, he does everything he can to become a great advocate as he works to lead others alongside him,” said Sabrina Bergen, Patuxent’s principal. “Not only is he highly dependable, he brings out-of-the-box thinking and a profound student perspective to all our school-wide initiatives. In my 17 years working in high school, Chad is the most influential student advocate I have met.”
While representing the 150,000-plus member MASC, Leo said he had the opportunity to testify before the Maryland General Assembly on healthier school food options, organize three statewide conferences and help the organization become more inclusive. While serving on the Citizens Advisory Council to the Calvert County Board of Education, he advocated for the fair pay of teachers. Through Young Democrats of America, he was the youngest delegate at a national convention in Dallas. He also ran two election campaigns for local candidates in Calvert and Prince George’s counties.
“My passions have been shaped by my experiences,” Leo said. “As a person who was diagnosed with mild cerebral palsy as a child, I believe in equal rights for every community. As the son of a line of educators, I have fought for quality education and teacher rights. I truly believe that change will only happen if we have the desire, strength and persistence to see it through.”
For more information call 410-543-6030 or visit the SU website at www.salisbury.edu.
