Three Ephrata High School students were sworn in as Junior Council members by Mayor John McBeth at the Akron Borough Council meeting on Aug. 26. The new Junior Council Program (JCP) members are Akron Borough residents Max Herman, who is serving a second term; Martin Sweigart; and Alyssa Vasyanovich.

The Akron Borough initiative is a part of the Junior Council Person Program, encouraged by the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs (PSAB) in Harrisburg. The program allows high school and college students the opportunity to learn skills including team building and collaboration, public speaking, public engagement, budgeting and running effective meetings. It also allows students the opportunity to deliberate on issues that are affecting their community.

While the students will not vote with the Akron Borough Council, they will participate in council discussions and offer input and opinions for consideration. They are also invited to attend PSAB conferences.

Justin Gehman, Akron Borough Council vice president, spearheaded the Junior Council Program last year, and it is continuing for the 2024-25 school year.

Max enjoyed his participation last year as a high school junior and is continuing his senior year.

A high school senior, Martin is a member of the German National Honor Society and has won the Silver Award in the National German Exam. His activities include running cross-country and track and field, and he plays the violin in the orchestra. His plans for college include pursuing a regional planning degree.

Alyssa is a member of National Honor Society and enjoys playing in the marching band, percussion ensemble and jazz band. As a volunteer, she works with the Fulton Elementary Big Buddy Program, the Ephrata Unit-F, and Our Mother of Perpetual Help (OMPH) Church. Her accomplishments include placing second at the rifle tournament and serving as rifle team captain, a member of German National Honor Society and a Friends of Eberbach representative. Alyssa plans to attend West Virginia University to study business and economics.