For Immediate Release: July 21, 2026
12 Students Named to the Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council
(COLUMBUS, Ohio) – The Ohio School Safety Center (OSSC) announced today that 12 Ohio high school students have been selected for the 2026-2027 Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council.
Governor Mike DeWine created the council in 2022 to help OSSC leadership identify school safety concerns and develop innovative solutions to address them. Students from last year’s council presented their capstone projects at the 2026 School Safety Summit in June.
“These students play a critical role in shaping the future of school safety in Ohio,” said OSSC Executive Director Emily Torok. “We are proud to work alongside them as they help identify challenges, develop solutions, and strengthen the well-being of their peers.”
Council members will help develop ways to encourage their peers to take an active role in promoting a safe school environment and will serve as advocates for students’ overall well-being. They will work with OSSC school safety liaisons and mobile training officers to coordinate events, focus groups, and trainings that showcase student achievements and highlight safety best practices. Members will also provide feedback to the Ohio School Safety Working Group and the OSSC on student-focused marketing efforts and other projects to ensure student perspectives are included.
The 12 new students selected for the Ohio Student Safety Advisory Council include:
- Ellery Wygal, West Liberty-Salem High School, Champaign County
- Sofia Kohl, Beaumont School, Cuyahoga County
- Jane Peck, Beaumont School, Cuyahoga County
- Hassan Azam, Olentangy High School, Delaware County
- Angel Buaful, Metro Early College High School, Franklin County
- Jiha Jang, Indian Hill High School, Hamilton County
- Scout Pettry, Patrick Henry High School, Henry County
- Allison Schilling, Wadsworth High School, Medina County
- Alex Zhang, Centerville High School, Montgomery County
- Logan Jeffers, Vinton County High School, Vinton County
- Avery West, Little Miami High School, Warren County
- Bryce Peters, Hilltop High School, Williams County
Council members were chosen based on their responses to essay questions about how school safety has affected their lives, their ideas for improving it and how they plan to represent their schools across the state. Applicants were also required to submit a letter of support from a school staff member.
Governor DeWine created the Ohio School Safety Center in 2019. It is housed within the Ohio Department of Public Safety and works to assist local schools, colleges and universities, and law enforcement agencies to prevent, prepare for, and respond to threats and acts of violence, including self-harm, through a holistic, solutions-based approach to improving school safety.
 For additional information, contact:
Natalie Everetts at (614) 687-1633
njeveretts@dps.ohio.gov
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