September 19, 2022 – Collinsville High School Senior Maleah Gilliland was welcomed as 2022-23 Collinsville Community Unit School District #10 Student School Board Member at the Board of Education’s September regular monthly meeting.
Maleah has been a CUSD 10 student her entire academic career. She attended Jefferson Elementary, Dorris Intermediate School and Collinsville Middle School. She participates in CHS Drama Club, Kahok Wind Ensemble and Honors Band. She is active in Kahoks United (anti-bullying club), and is a member of National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society and Thespian Honor Society.
Maleah plans to draw upon the knowledge she’s gained through school activities to help in her position as Student School Board Member:
Since I have been in a wide spectrum of clubs from theater to an anti-bullying club, one thing I heard most from students is inclusivity. I feel like the Board has done a great job so far trying to make sure everyone feels included no matter how they identify, their race or social class. Living in Collinsville, we not only have diverse cultures, but we [also] have people [who are] a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, which is important to be represented in our community.
I believe we have done a great job of this so far, but you can always strive for more. I believe making sure everyone is included regardless of gender, race or financial status is important in a community as diverse and rich in culture as ours. We are lucky to have such a diverse community and learning how to be inclusive in school can help after students graduate. It’s important to make sure that in anything put on in the school – or [when] just walking in the door – students and faculty feel represented, and [each person is] is provided the same opportunities as everyone else.
Alongside her school activities, Maleah volunteers with the breakfast ministry at Grace Church East and organized a successful food drive for Missions 1:11 that collected cake mixes, peanut butter and vitamins for people in Haiti. In addition, she is an Honor Roll student who earned a GPA of 4.51/4.0 at the conclusion of the last school year, ranking her 10th in her junior class.
Maleah is the daughter of Troy and Amy Gilliland. She has plans to attend NYU Tisch School of the Arts next fall to major in Performance Studies with a minor in psychology. She is preparing for a career in theater, and television/film production.
The CUSD 10 Student School Board Member provides a student voice on the board. The individual is selected annually from CHS seniors who apply to be considered for the position. They serve for one school year, attending regular monthly meetings of the Board of Education as a non-voting member.
Maleah looks forward to representing her peers on the school board, “I am grateful to be a part of this district that allows students to feel heard and seen by their administrators, and that includes everyone. This district has helped me grow immensely and when I graduate I will always remember [it]. I [am] honored to serve as the Student School Board Member for this community.