Three area high school students have been added to Superintendent of Public Instruction Denise Juneau’s statewide Student Advisory Board.

High school juniors Noah Hill of Glacier High School, Kaitlyn Presnell of Columbia Falls High School and Alyssa Whitwort of Polson High School are among 31 new members.

Student Advisory Board members were first nominated by local schools and community members and also had to apply for selection to the board.

“I have personally read each student’s application and the recommendations from adults in their lives,” Juneau said in a press release. “The unique perspective each student brings to the board is extremely valuable as we work community by community to improve the graduation rate and educational opportunities for all students.”

The board consists of 39 students from 34 Montana high schools. The first meeting of the 2014-15 Student Advisory Board will be Oct. 9 and 10 in Helena.

The board is part of Juneau’s statewide initiative, Graduation Matters Montana, that aims to increase the number of students who graduate from high school prepared for college and careers.

For more information about the board, including the full list of members, visit gmm.mt.gov/sab.html.