It was the fall of his junior year at Old Mill High School, when Nick Lefavor was approached by administrators about a special opportunity – an opportunity so special, if elected, he would be the only student in the country to earn the distinction.

They wanted him to run for a seat on the county Board of Education.

Lefavor hails from Anne Arundel County, Md., known for its picturesque views on the bordering Chesapeake Bay. It also happens to be the only county in the U.S. that allows a student a seat on the Board of Education with full voting rights. It has been this way since the mid-1970's, when there was a local push for more student representation in the educational decision making process.  

Every year, top high school students in the area compete for the coveted spot. Lefavor opted to take the advice of his persuasive administrators, beginning a seven month process which he looks back on as a whirlwind.

"I had to go through an extensive campaign process to win the position," Lefavor said. "It was important in the election process that I assert that I had a diverse socioeconomic background and that I could assimilate with different cultures and different people."

The process included interviews with high-ranking school officials, three public Q&A's, and a speech in front of 500 fellow students.

Lefavor was elected to the position by his peers and was then appointed by the governor of Maryland. But it wasn't until he became engrossed in his responsibilities on the board that he grasped the depth and meaning of his election.

"I wasn't just representing students," Lefavor said. "I was more of a student perspective while representing the whole county. So, I was representing the soccer moms, the small business owners, and anyone you could think of."

The nine-person board oversees over 130 schools, 80,000 students, and 10,000 employees – an overwhelming task for just about anyone, especially a 17-year old.

"It was tough at first, I have to be honest," Lefavor said. "Basically, you have to do your homework. I spent night after night, up until the wee hours of the morning, researching issues going on in the county."

Lefavor faced the issues head-on, meeting face-to-face with students, lawmakers, and politicians in efforts to use his pull to benefit the county schools.

It was an eye-opening experience.

"I really gleaned a new perspective on education," Lefavor said. "When you're a high school student, the realm of education is your classroom, your teacher, and your school building. But being on the Board of Education, what I realized was that public education is a business."

The business side of things was unearthed to Lefavor in a way he never imagined. During his stead, he learned of legislative measures that are taken and political relationships that are fostered. He even helped prepare and approve a budget for over a billion dollars.

 "The product that you're supplying to your consumer, or the students, is education," Lefavor said. "Like businesses, school systems must be competitive. They always have to be looking for ways to compete with privatized education as well as to compete for funding and grants."

It was the business aspect of his experience that convinced Lefavor  to become a business major at La Salle.

"You don't have to be an education major to work in education," he remarked with a smile.

Lefavor's influence on the Board of Education overshadowed his high school running career, which included state qualifications in the 800, 1600, and 3200 meter runs. He was a member of six county championship teams and three regional championship squads.

When considering the plethora of colleges and universities interested in his academic and athletic services, La Salle was a natural choice.

"I actually looked at the location before I looked at the school," Lefavor said. "I really saw Philadelphia as a place where I could make a difference, a place where I could grow and learn and gather the most experience to be successful in my future."

Lefavor hopes his immediate future includes an opportunity to intern with the Philadelphia School District, where he yearns to impart his newfound wisdom in his new hometown. 

"When you look at the surrounding communities, you can be a little downtrodden," Lefavor said. "But I see it more as a gold mine of opportunities to make a difference in my community."

Lefavor has especially enjoyed becoming a part of the La Salle athletics community as a member of the cross country/track and field teams. Head coach Dan Ireland has found the youngster to be a terrific addition to the program.

"Nick has done a tremendous job so far this season," Ireland said. "If he continues to improve over the next several meets he has a great chance to compete at the A-10 Indoor Track Championships. That would be a great achievement for a freshman.

"He has also done a fantastic job in the classroom as well being part of the honors program."

Lefavor appears to be on the fast track to a career in educational decision making, where he can use his experiences and abilities to influence whole scale change within the industry.

But for now, the freshman is content as a student-athlete at 20^th & Olney.

"It's an unparalleled experience," Lefavor said. "My team is basically my family right now.

"I couldn't picture myself anywhere else."