Oregon Kid Governor Zoya Shah was sworn in today at a ceremony in the State Capitol hosted by Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers. Zoya is a fifth grader at Findley Elementary in the Beaverton School District. Her platform is creating mental health awareness in kids. Zoya’s campaign video can be viewed here. 

Zoya was joined today by her six cabinet members from across the state, previous Oregon Kid Governor Lea Andrus, Treasurer Tobias Read, BOLI Commissioner Christina Stephenson, House Majority Leader Julie Fahey, and Paul De Muniz, former chief justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, who delivered the oath of office. Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers hosted the ceremony and delivered remarks congratulating Zoya. Deputy Secretary Myers’ remarks celebrated the young students, their platforms, and the importance of civic education.

Zoya was elected Kid Governor by her peers across Oregon in November. Fifth grade students from across Oregon participated in the Oregon Kid Governor contest. Zoya is joined by an impressive cabinet, including: 

• Bassem — Community Issue: Finding Friendship in Schools, Bonny Slope Elementary, Beaverton
• Kaavya — Community Issue: Plastic Pollution is Hurting the Environment, Adams Elementary, Eugene
• Lydia — Community Issue: Conserve and Protect Oregon’s Resources, Dry Hollow Elementary, The Dalles
• Phebe — Community Issue: Endangered Species, Pacific Ridge Elementary School, Seaside
• Remy — Community issue: Discrimination, Indian Hills Elementary, Aloha, Oregon
• Shaurya — Community issue: Prevent Racism, Buena Vista Spanish Immersion Elementary School, Eugene

Kid Governor was started by the Connecticut Democracy Center in 2015 as a way of introducing Civics Education to fifth graders. It is in its seventh year in Oregon. The program is administered by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.

Watch a replay of Zoya’s virtual inauguration here: http://or.kidgovernor.org/inauguration

Learn more about Zoya and her platform, as well as the cabinet who will be serving with her in the year ahead, here: http://or.kidgovernor.org/

If you would like to request an interview with Oregon Kid Governor Zoya or any cabinet members, please contact Nikki Fisher at Nikki.Fisher@OR.KidGovernor.org. For Zoya’s media kit: https://sos.oregon.gov/Pages/media-kits.aspx