UPDATED: Swampscott High Student to Serve on Governor's Youth Council

Swampscott High freshman Madison Van Dam, at 14, is one of the youngest members on the Massachusetts Youth Council, whose job it is to create positive change in their communities.

She'll be a busy 14-year-old adding the two-year Council commitment to an already full schedule.

Madison, a high honors student who is taking honors classes in her first year at Swampscott High, volunteers at Girls Inc. in Lynn.

There the daughter of Faythe and David Van Dam mentors students and helps them with science and math lessons.

She has also volunteered for veterans related projects and ran cross country.

Applying for the Council was a job in and of itself.

Madison applied back in June and spent weeks answering questions, securing recommendations and writing out her thoughts.

She was surprised and excited when the Governor's office called the Van Dam household three weeks ago with the news that she had been accepted, said her father.

"I'm proud of her," said her dad, David Van Dam a Swampscott selectman. "At fourteen she is willing to give up her Saturdays and donate time for the council."

The first Council meeting is in January. The appointment is for two years. She is one of 28 alternate members on the panel.

Members of the Council were selected by an application review committee for their excellence in leadership and their outstanding potential to create change in their communities, according to the Governor's press office. Members range from ages 14-20.

"The progress Youth Council members have made over the past several years is remarkable, and I am confident that this amazing group of young people will carry on that tradition and leave the Commonwealth stronger for the next generation,” said Governor Patrick. 

The Youth Council will hold formal bi-monthly sessions and will advise the Governor as representatives of Massachusetts youth. In addition to their bi-monthly meetings, Youth Council members gather independently to share what they see in their communities and talk about how state government can partner with local communities to create solutions. The first two classes of the Youth Council worked with the Administration to advocate for the passage of several important policy issues, including the Governor’s 2010 anti-bullying legislation.

If you are interested in speaking with a member of the Governor’s Youth Council, please contact the Governor’s press office at 617-725-4025.

City/Town 

First Name 

Last Name

Amherst

Tosh

Foerster

Andover

Nikhil

Chopra

Chicopee

Caianne

Cayode

Dalton

Chris

Darroch

Dudley

Konstantinos “Kostas”

Karamanakis

East Sandwich

Kit

Freddura

Edgartown

Douglas

Andrade

Greenfield

Brienne

Paradis

Hyde Park

Jamila

Sealy-Norvin

Lowell

Ritika

Kumar

Marshfield

Mary-Kate

Roffey

Marston Mills

Fallon

Rice

Medfield

Blake Tyler

Brown

Nantucket

Cara

Garufi

Nantucket

Cooper

Voigt

New Bedford

Raycela

Dasher

North Brookfield

Erica

Tillotson

Peabody

Hayley

Patz

Pembroke

Tristan

Hussey

Roslindale

Meggie

Noel

Shelburne

Jenna

Sencabaugh

Somerville

Kevin

Ma

South Easton

Jack

Duffy-Protentis

Stoughton

Danisha

Dumornay

Vineyard Haven

Isabella

Hazell-El-Deiry

Ware

Ali

Ostrosky

Westfield

Christian

Knapp

Williamstown

Crystal

Haynes

The Governor also welcomed 28 alternate members.

City/Town

First Name

Last Name

Abington

Osemwengie

Enabulele

Amherst

Sarah

Waldman

Attleboro

Cameron

Frye

Boston

Helen

Ashley

Bradford

Lauren

Hajec

East Falmouth

Danna

Floyd

East Freetown

Hayley

Morais

Granby

Savannah

Fabricius

Haverhill

Jowan

Perez

Holyoke

Sydney

Castonguay

Housatonic

Joseph

Grochmal

Hyde Park

Anna

Jaysing

Lowell

Corinne

Plaisir

Marshfield

Jonathan

Stern

Needham

Andrew

McCormick

North Andover

James

Gottfried

Northfield

Sydney

Foster

Pittsfield

Mollie

Dimise

Quincy

Michael

McDevitt

Sagamore Beach

Jessica

Fiasconaro

Somerville

Maria Elena

Cruz-Pena

Stoughton

Imani

George

Swampscott

Madison

Van Dam

Upton

Teddy

Floyd

Wakefield

Emily

Oneschuk

West Tisbury

Mary

Ollen

Wilbraham

Cimone

Cato

Worcester

Rose

Payva

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