Devin Soucy is the new student representative on the School Committee for the 2026-27 school year. The AHS senior said it’s a “great opportunity” to learn more about public service.
Reminder Publishing photo by Mike Lydick
AGAWAM — Devin Soucy is passionate about public service. One day, the Agawam High School senior plans to run for elected office.
He hopes to learn more about public service by serving as the new student representative to the School Committee. “I want to make a positive impact on my community and, hopefully, on our country. I think serving on the School Committee is a great opportunity to begin learning more about public service and leadership,” said Soucy.
Soucy, who will serve for the 2026-27 school year, was among more than a dozen students who applied for the position. He was one of seven students in mid-May by AHS Assistant Principal Amanda Danek and Aiden Thierrien, the 2025-26 student representative.
“Devin has worked closely with us in many ways this year. He is a leader in our building through his advocacy for programming, through his advocacy for creating a culture of inclusivity, of academic excellence and of community service,” said AHS Principal Jim Blain when he introduced Soucy to the committee at its May 26 meeting.
Soucy said he wanted to serve as the student representative to give back to his community to make sure every student’s voice in the district is heard. “My goal is to represent students to help strengthen the connection between students and the School Committee,” said the 17-year-old.
After being introduced to the committee most student representatives wait until September to start attending. But not Soucy. He was at the table with the committee at its June meeting.
“I wanted to hit the ground running,” he said. “By starting in June, I was able to learn how the meetings operate and better understand my responsibilities before the school year began. I wanted to be ready to make an impact from day one instead of spending the first few meetings learning the role.”
To prepare for his new position, Soucy attended School Committee meetings and talked to his peers, administrators and the previous student representative. He’s learning as much as possible about the position to he can represent students effectively and serve them and the district “to the best of my ability.”
Open communication is one of Soucy’s biggest priorities. He will provide regular updates to the committee through school announcements and by staying connected with students and administrators. He also plans to enlist students at other schools to provide additional information through a new program he’s created.
It’s called the Junior Representative Program that will allow student representatives from each school to stay in regular contact with him. “I’ll also share updates from School Committee meetings with them, and they’ll share news, accomplishments and concerns from their schools so I can bring those perspectives to the committee.”
Soucy said he’s excited to launch this new program because it creates a direct line of communication between every school in the district and the School Committee. He added that one of the biggest issues students talked to him about was improving communication.
“Many students wanted to know more about what happens during School Committee meetings and wanted to feel more connected to decisions being made across the district. That’s one of the main reasons I created the Junior Representative Program,” said Soucy, who moved to Agawam in 2021when he was in sixth grade.
He said his parents are very proud and supportive of him serving on the School Committee. “They’ve always encouraged me to get involved in my school and community. They’re excited to see me represent students across the district.”
His mother, Emily Soucy, said she’s thrilled about her son serving on the School Committee. “It’s a wonderful opportunity for him to serve as a voice for Agawam students and advocate for their ideas and experiences. Community service has always been deeply important to Devin, as he believes in giving back to his community and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others. This role is a perfect fit. I’m proud of his opportunity to represent his peers and make a positive impact in the school community.”
At AHS, Soucy is involved in a number of extracurricular activities while taking challenging classes. Additionally, he’s president of the National Honor Society and the founder and president of the Speech and Debate Society.
He also serves as the Mental Health Committee leader for the Hampden District Attorney’s Youth Advisory Board, participates on the Barr Foundation Student Advisory Group, is a member of the Future Lawyers of Springfield and serves as the boys’ and girls’ volleyball team manager This fall he will be a legal intern.
One accomplishment that Soucy is especially proud of is maintaining a GPA above 4.0 while staying actively involved in leadership, service and extracurricular activities. “I’ve learned how to balance my responsibilities while continuing to challenge myself both inside and outside the classroom,” he said.
Soucy added that time management has become one of his strongest skills. “I stay organized, plan ahead, and make sure I dedicate enough time to each commitment. Serving as the student representative is something I take very seriously, and I’ll make sure I give this role the time and attention it deserves.”
During the summer, Soucy participated in three leadership programs: the World Affairs Seminar in Wisconsin, the Best Buddies Leadership Conference in Indiana and a Global Glimpse leadership trip to Costa Rica.
After graduating from AHS, Soucy’s goal is to pursue a career in law and politics, with the long-term goal of working in the federal government.
Soucy plans to major in political science and minor in a pre-government/legal study before attending law school. He’s still exploring his college options, but the schools Soucy is interested in include Yale University, Trinity College and Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.
