St. Ursula Academy rising junior Catherine Stella Soeder was chosen by Ohio governor Mike DeWine as one of 16 teens from across the state to participate in the inaugural Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council, a part of the Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC). This group of high school students will collaborate with leaders to develop innovative solutions to address school safety concerns.

Soeder answered several essay questions and submitted a letter of recommendation as part of the application process. As a member of the committee, she will participate in monthly virtual meetings and will attend an in-person conference in Columbus in early August. She will, with the student team, explore safety issues and help create solutions. “I am excited to be part of this council and to contribute to school safety,” she said.

The OSSC members will work with Soeder and the other students to develop safety strategies to take back to their local schools. The students will be liaisons to the OSSC and will help organize local events, focus groups, and training related to safety best practices. They will also act as a sounding board for OSSC marketing campaigns and projects to ensure that student voices are represented.