Seneca Valley sophomore Emily Clark has been chosen as the junior representative to the Pennsylvania State Board of Education. She is one of just two students chosen from across the state to be a member of the board.

To earn the spot, Emily participated in a rigorous selection process. She now will spend the 2012-13 school year representing 1.8 million Pennsylvania students as a board member in a non-voting capacity. In addition, she will chair a student summit on educational issues facing Pennsylvania students on the house floor of the State Capital next February.

The state board works closely with the Pennsylvania Department of Education, state policy makers and educators to review, develop and adopt regulations that govern significant components of both basic and higher education in the Commonwealth.

The board approves state academic standards for Pennsylvania’s students and sets policies that help ensure our educators are effective in delivering related instruction.

-- Information and photo submitted by Seneca Valley School District. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Editor Jessica Sinichak at jessica.sinichak@patch.com or visit our Neighborhood Gallery.