COVINA, CA – South Hills High School sophomore Nathan Kha is bringing his passion for civic engagement and student advocacy to the county level as a member of the 2026-27 Los Angeles County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.

Kha is one of only 86 students representing 47 school districts on the council, which gives students an opportunity to share their perspectives with education leaders and help inform countywide conversations about issues affecting schools and students.

“I really care about spreading student voices to governing bodies, and I believe decisions can’t just be made by people who aren’t currently in the schools,” Kha said. “It’s important for students to be part of the conversation.”

Kha’s interest in civic engagement began at a young age. While watching the 2020 presidential election, Kha said seeing people vote, discuss ballot measures, and share their perspectives sparked his interest in how individuals can influence the issues affecting their community.

Today, Kha has turned that interest into his own advocacy at South Hills High, where he founded the Civic Engagement Needs Transformative Students (CENTS) club, which is focused on fostering an inclusive environment and raising awareness for important social issues.

The club has approximately 86 members and creates posters addressing issues such as sexual assault and National Suicide Prevention Month.

“Youth voices are important in solving real community issues because we live through it,” Kha said. “While we aren’t yet at a legal age where we have a lot of power, we still have our voices. There’s a lot of power in that…I want to make the world a better place.”

Beyond CENTS, Kha serves as treasurer of South Hills High’s Key Club and the STEMsters. He also independently raises awareness of social issues through monthly Instagram posts and volunteers with Luv Michael, a nonprofit organization that promotes autism awareness.

While serving on the student advisory council, Kha said he looks forward to learning about how superintendents across the county are addressing real-world issues in schools, while also strengthening his leadership skills and learning new ways to advocate for his community.

“Nathan’s commitment to civic engagement and student advocacy is inspiring,” Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Blackmore said. “We are proud to have him represent Covina-Valley Unified on the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council and look forward to seeing how he brings student perspectives to important conversations in education.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

CVUSD_KHA1: South Hills High School sophomore Nathan Kha is a member of the 2026-27 Los Angeles County Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council. At South Hills High, Kha is putting his passion for civic engagement into action by founding the Civic Engagement Needs Transformation Students (CENTS) club.

CVUSD_KHA2: South Hills High School sophomore Nathan Kha founded the CENTS club to foster an inclusive environment and raise awareness for important social issues.