Student Member, Wicomico County, Term 2024 - 2025
Abhiram Gaddam, a senior at Parkside High School in Salisbury, Maryland, is serving as the 39th student member of the State Board of Education for the 2024-25 year. His commitment to the role stems from a passion for ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has access to high-quality educational opportunities.
Abhiram’s passion for equity in education is driven by his personal experience growing up on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where access to resources and opportunities can often differ from other parts of the state. As he said in his campaign statement, he wants “to be the person that shows that our differing experiences are our strengths, not our limitations.” As the only current board member from this region, Abhiram brings a unique perspective to the Board’s work.
In addition to his work as the student member of the Board, Abhiram is heavily involved in leadership roles at his school and in the community. He has served as captain of his team in the Wicomico County Robotics Club, leading efforts in CAD design and mentoring middle school students, co-founded his school’s Stock Market Club which helps students build financial literacy and understand economics, and mentored elementary students in First Lego League, encouraging innovation in the next generation.
His long-term goals as the student member of the Board include addressing issues of imbalance resource allocation, increasing extracurricular accessibility, starting college and career readiness initiatives earlier, and much more. He is beyond excited to advocate for these changes and more, representing the 900,000+ Maryland students with a unique voice.