Bio:  Ruby Zhao is a senior at North Hagerstown High School in Washington County and has been involved in student council for the past three years. She currently serves as President of the Washington County Association of Student Councils (WCASC) and Vice President of the North Hagerstown High School Student Council (NHHS SCA). Previously, she served as WCASC Legislative Co-Chair and Corresponding Secretary for NHHS SCA.

Outside of student council, Ruby is an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme student and has played the violin in her school’s orchestra for 8 years. She is also a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and serves in a leadership role with her school’s Asian Student Union.

In her free time, Ruby enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be serving as MASC’s Division 1 Liaison and making valuable connections and helping make a positive impact across Division 1 and the MASC community.

Bio: Kayla Benjamin (she/her) is a junior at Urbana High School in Frederick County. She began her leadership journey four years ago as an active member of the Urbana Middle School Student Government Association and the Actions in Middle School (AIMS) of MASC, driven by her desire for advocacy and leaving a lasting impact in her community.

As her high school career continues, Kayla serves numerous leadership roles within the Frederick County Association of Student Councils (FCASC) and the Urbana High School Student Government Association (SGA) — such as the Student Outreach Coordinator for FCASC and the Vice President for SGA. Beyond student council, Kayla’s the Chief Communications Officer of Urbana’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA), the largest chapter in Maryland. She’s also a two-time candidate of Blood Cancer United Student Visionaries of the Year, previously raising ~$5,000 her sophomore year.

Beyond her extracurriculars, Kayla is passionate about cooking, spontaneous adventures, making new friends, and giving people a reason to laugh. She’s deeply honored to serve as the Division 2 Liaison and love the new connections she is building between Division 2 and MASC.

Bio: Abby Lin is a senior in the Biomedical Sciences program at Bel Air High School. She previously served as Treasurer and is currently President of the Harford County Regional Association of Student Councils (HCRASC).

Outside of student council, Abby enjoys volunteering in emergency medicine, going to concerts, and spending time with family. She is excited to continue with MASC by representing Division 3 and connecting with student leaders across the state!

Bio: Veda Puvvala is a senior at Crofton High School in Anne Arundel County. She has been involved with the Maryland Association of Student Councils (MASC) for two years, and this is her first year serving as an appointed staff member. At the regional level, Veda has been involved with the Chesapeake Regional Association of Student Councils (CRASC) for the past two years, where she currently serves as Secretary of Education. She also serves as President of Crofton High School’s Student Government Association (SGA).

In addition to her student council involvement, Veda is highly active within her community. She is the founder and President of her school’s Debate Club, a Legislative Intern for Anne Arundel County Public Schools, and a member of Crofton’s South Asian Student Association.

Outside of her academic and leadership involvement, Veda enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and listening to music. She is excited to be a part of the MASC family.

Bio: Derrell Gross Jr. (he/him) is a sophomore at Calvert High School and serves as the Division 5 Liaison. His leadership journey began four years ago when he joined his middle school Student Government Association. Since then, he has been passionate about student voice, advocacy, and creating opportunities for students to get involved. Having always dreamed of being class president, Derrell has continuously sought ways to grow as a leader and serve others.

Before becoming Division 5 Liaison, Derrell served as MASC’s 2nd Vice President for the 2024–2025 term. He enjoys connecting with student leaders, building relationships across schools, and helping students discover their own leadership potential. Through his work in student government, Derrell strives to ensure every student feels heard, represented, and empowered to make a difference.

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Bio: Sara Reyes-Ferreras is a student at James M. Bennett High School and serves as the District 8 Liaison. As a first-generation student, Sara is deeply committed to youth engagement, student safety, and community outreach. Outside of student government, she is a dedicated student-athlete and musician, serving as both the basketball and orchestra manager at her school, playing softball, and singing in her church’s Spanish Mass Choir. In her free time, Sara enjoys exploring her interests in science, psychology, and medicine.