MEDIA RELEASE
Brooksville - There is a fresh new face at the dais as Rylee Rhineberger, 2023-34 Student Representative to the Hernando County School Board, officially took her seat at the September 19th meeting. Rhineberger, 17, is a senior at Weeki Wachee High School, was elected to the seat at the annual delegate election, the annual kickoff to the district's Student Delegate Program. At the board meeting, Riley discussed changes to how updates and information will be shared to the board: "We want to do something a little different this year, where we invite other delegates up if they want to do their own school update," Rhineberger said. "And I want to extend this out to the middle and elementary schoolers as well, to build them up in that leadership position and do some public speaking."
As this year’s Student Representative, Rhineberger hopes to address concerns about the transition years (5th to 6th grade, and 8th to 9th grade). “I know first hand these years can mean major changes for many students, and I would love to create an initiative this year to help with this issue,” she said. “It would allow high schoolers to visit all middle schools each with a presentation on what their school offers, such as specialty programs, accelerated courses, electives and clubs. Also, just share their experience in high school in general. I would also like to do something similar with our middle schoolers sharing this information with 5th graders at our elementary schools.” She also hopes to have more school board encouragement of schools doing PBIS (positive behavior interventions and supports) events. “I am extremely excited to take on this new responsibility and have the opportunity to work with amazing students all throughout our county.”
Rhineberger is quite involved at Weeki Wachee - She is the student government president, president of the school’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) for the past 3 years, a Beta club officer, a captain on the WWHS Swim Team, a member of the National Honors Society and a member of the WWHS Spirit Team. She got involved in the Student Delegate Program last year as a Junior. “As the student government president, I get to work on many amazing projects and events happening at my school, like homecoming, our parade, our carnival, and create initiatives to boost our school culture,” she said.
Not only is Rhineberger a product of Hernando schools (having also attended Chocachatti Elementary and Winding Waters K8), her family members have also attended and graduated from Hernando schools, including both her parents, Samuel and Tanya Rhineberger, and older siblings Jonathan and Lauren. “My cousin, Matthew Rhineberger, was involved in the student delegate program during his time at NCT,” she said.
When she graduates in May, Rhineberger hopes to attend the University of Florida. She plans to major in marketing with a minor in either communications or graphic design. She hopes to work in digital marketing.
