18-Year-Old Becomes Youngest School Board Member in Herricks District History
Athul Santhosh, an 18-year-old high school graduate, won election to the Herricks school board on Long Island with 592 votes, making him the youngest person ever elected to the position. He ran on a platform of increasing student involvement in budget decisions and improving extracurricular opportunities, funded by $1,000 he raised through tutoring. His grassroots campaign, which included door-to-door canvassing and social media outreach, resonated particularly with young parents and recent graduates.
Athul Santhosh, a 2025 Herricks High School graduate, made history by becoming the youngest person ever elected to the Herricks school board on Long Island in the May 19 election. Running on a modest $1,000 budget raised through his tutoring work, Santhosh secured 592 votes to win the final of three open seats, defeating candidates Ritesh Ramdhani (400 votes) and Nidhi Guru (360 votes). His campaign strategy focused on grassroots engagement, including knocking on approximately 1,000 doors, posting roadside signs, and leveraging social media to appeal to young parents and recent graduates. Santhosh, who previously served as a student representative on the board and works in an administrative role for the Town of North Hempstead, campaigned on a platform of increasing student involvement in budget decisions, expanding extracurricular activities and internships, and bolstering athletics. He will be sworn in on July 1 at age 19 and has arranged his NYU class schedule to accommodate evening board meetings. Despite facing skepticism due to his age, Santhosh emphasized his proven experience advocating for student opportunities.
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LI teen wins seat on home town’s school board — beating older candidates with cash he raised tutoring
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