The Marshalltown Community School District offers high school students the opportunity to serve as Student School Board Representatives. These student leaders provide valuable perspectives and share updates on high school related events and activities. For the 2026-27 school year, the MCSD school board will hear from four representatives.
Nyemade Harmon, a Senior at Marshalltown High School, is one of the four representatives. Learn more about Nyemade and her Bobcat story by reading her responses to the following Q&A
What activities are you a part of at MHS?
Literature over lunch, Poetry out loud, National Honor Society (president), Speech and debate, XLP and Rotary club
What is your favorite subject and why?
Spanish because I love learning languages. It bridges the divide between disparate communities and opens doors to connection with people you would have never met otherwise.
What has been your favorite memory so far at MHS and why?
That’s a hard question, but I would say being with all my friends at the end of cheer games and the bus rides back home. I loved it and I love them so much. Unforgettable. Also, freshman year homecoming dance.
What is your proudest accomplishment?
My 4.0 GPA, making it to the All-State Speech Festival and being double honored there after claiming I’m not a good public speaker all my life, also receiving a signed commendation letter from the Iowa Senate.
What is the best piece of advice you have received so far?
Don’t stress about what you can’t control.
What is your biggest dream or goal in life?
To make all of the people who love and believe in me proud, to make myself proud, and to help as many people as possible before it’s my time to go. Also, to just be happy and content with myself, my life, and what I’ve accomplished.
What are your plans for after high school?
I want to go to a 4-year Ivy League university; my top choices are Yale and Harvard. And I aim to become a Doctor sub-specializing in the care of Children. I am really interested in anesthesiology, psychiatry and neonatology.
What does it mean to you to embrace the lead?
Embracing the lead means taking ownership of my path while actively pulling others forward with me. It’s about creating real opportunities for my peers, speaking up to dismantle systemic barriers, and using my voice to amplify theirs.