JAY – Katie Nemi and Justin Shink are prepared to represent student views and educate their peers about what’s going on in education at the School Committee level.

Nemi, 17, a junior, and Shink, 16, a sophomore at Jay High School, were elected as student School Committee members Thursday.

They had to fill out an application and write an essay about why they wanted to be on the board and get a teacher’s recommendation. Then they had to be interviewed by the School Committee.

“I felt that it was a good way to better my knowledge about the school system of Jay and make me more sophisticated as a student at Jay High School,” Nemi said. “I feel like I’m a determined person, and I think I can make progress and better educate our student body as a whole.”

Nemi said she plans to be interactive with fellow students to let them know what’s happening and to better their knowledge about issues, including school consolidation.

Her concerns, she said, include “school consolidation and the whole process of what would be the better school to merge with and our taxes going up It won’t affect me but I want to better the future of my underclassmen. “

Shink said he applied because he cared about the school and the knowledge he gains will help make his stay better.

“I can bring new ideas to the table,” Shink said. “I had ideas before I was on the board. One problem is lack of student discipline and school rules in general not being enforced.”

Shink believes his teamwork and people skills will help him.

“I’m representing Jay High School students to the board so basically I represent their opinions,” Shink said.

Both teenagers hold jobs and are active in athletics and other activities.

Nemi is a product ambassador at Hannaford, promoting store items. She also plays tennis, field hockey, is on the math team and is a right wing on the Winthrop Rambling Black Bears ice hockey team.

Shink also works at Hannaford as a customer service associate and is a firefighter in the Jay Fire Rescue Department Hot Shot program. He participates in track, football and basketball.

Nemi’s goal after she graduates from high school is to go to Harvard Medical School.

Shink’s is to go to University of Maine in Orono to become a forest ranger.

“And if that doesn’t work,” he said, “I have a backup plan.” He would go to college to study fire science.

In her spare time, Nemi likes to go to Boston and shop with her mother and sister.

“I like spending time with my family, especially my grandmother,” Nemi said.

In his spare time, Shink likes to fish and spend time with his family as well.

The two will attend their first board meeting Thursday, May 10.