2021
Maryland Young Women Leaders
Honoree

Brina Ratangee, is a senior at Urbana High School. She has lived in four different states (New Jersey, Indiana, Illinois, Maryland) and nine different residences throughout the course of her childhood. Each time she has moved, Brina needed to adapt to a new environment, which included adjusting to new schools, developing her reputation as a diligent student, and making new friends. Her moves meant spending no more than three years in a single state.

Brina has a passion for STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) and community service. She has been involved in many leadership activities in the community and inside the school that have shaped her. Alist of just a few of these would include: National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Adventist Health Care Shady Grove Hospital, Distinguished Young Women (DYW) National Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council – Subcommittee Captain, International Academic Competitions (IAC) – Co-authored a 120 page Science Bee Study Guide, Student Voices – a Frederick County Public School initiative to bring high schools together, Urbana Volunteer Firefighter Department, and Urbana Library – Collections Committee Chair. In September 2020, she was named a National Merit Semifinalist. In addition, she has earned many medals for the Maryland Science Olympiad (MSO).

Brina is the founder of ApCYCLE. She started the project after completing an Advanced Placement (AP) exam and thinking about what she should do with her leftover resources. She collects and distributes gently used exam review books for AP, International Bacculareat (IB), and SAT to disadvantaged students. She has expanded the distribution to states with chapters in Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The social media sites are – website: apcycledonate.weebly.com ─ Instagram: @apcycledonate. The project was featured on Dr. Alban, superintendent of Frederick County Public Schools tweet of the week

“When confronted with mistakes or failures, a leader must bounce back.
When team morale wanes, a leader must spread encouragement and hope.
When goals seem impossible, a leader must adjust the action steps, never
losing sight of her ambitions.”