Brawley High student takes local leadership to national stage

BRAWLEY, Calif. (KYMA) - A local high school student-athlete is stepping onto the national stage, representing not just the Imperial Valley, but the entire state of California.

Lucca Rubin, an incoming junior at Brawley Union High School (BUHS), has been selected as one of just 16 students nationwide to serve on the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) National Student Advisory Council.

Representing Section 7, Rubin is part of the third cohort of the council, which advocates for over 15 million students across nearly 20,000 high schools. Her selection marks a historic milestone: It is the first time California has ever had a representative since the initiative's foundations began in 2001.

Rubin recently returned from the 10th in-person National Student Leadership Summit (NSLS) held at the Marriott Downtown Hotel in Indianapolis.

The conference brought together 220 student ambassadors from 30 states, Canada, and Honduras, alongside 88 adult advisors.

"I feel really honored because that's such a big thing to think that they thought of me for that," Rubin said. "I was really excited. It was really cool to be able to talk about the Imperial Valley and talk about where I'm from."

Despite initially feeling nervous about traveling across the country, Rubin found an incredibly welcoming environment.

"Everyone was super welcoming, really nice, and everyone’s kind of like outgoing and open about talking, so that made it easy," Rubin noted. "We got to do student-led discussions at the summit. We got to hear different people’s perspectives on what had been going on in their particular county."

Around the BUHS campus, Rubin is known as a powerhouse. She maintains a 4.0 GPA while balancing varsity and travel volleyball, serving as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) student leader, and working as the newly elected Associated Student Body (ASB) Commissioner of Athletics.

Her class advisor and BUHS security staff member, Ruben Villa, said selecting Rubin for the nomination was an instant decision.

"Mrs. Self called me and asked to think of one student in the sophomore class that would be a good representative, and at the top of my head, I said Lucca. She was like, 'I was thinking the same thing,'" Villa recalled. "Well, she's a very well-rounded individual...the way she carries herself, the way she speaks to others, the way she speaks to adults. She has exceeded expectations in our program."

Villa added that her national foundation will directly benefit her peers at home saying, "We've never had a representative at that level from the school, or this county, or let alone the state, so I think she'll be a tremendous asset to help us build that here."

The council was formed to tackle major issues impacting high school athletics, ranging from sportsmanship and mental health to navigating relationships with coaches and officials.

BUHS Athletic Director Billy Brewer, who has watched Rubin grow up, emphasized why her specific leadership voice is necessary at the state and national levels.

"We needed a kid that was going to voice some of the issues, obviously not just local issues, but state issues at the highest level, and she's definitely a kid that does that," Brewer said.

Brewer explained that the student council concept is vital in modern sports culture.

"Sometimes parents, coaches, and athletic directors, starting with me, can go over the line with an official, or a student to a student. We all want to compete, and we all want to win, but there is a professional way and a right way to go about it. That's really what we’re trying to hit home," Brewer said.

Brewer described Rubin as a natural leader who brings people together.

"She's a sweetheart, but more than that, she's just open to everybody. She takes care of everybody. She's a server, obviously, and everybody likes her, gets along with her. She's got that drawing-in force that makes people want to get closer to her and speak to her," Brewer explained.

Rubin credited her early success to the unique preparation she received right at home.

"We have our own Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAC) here, and that was really cool because not all schools have their very own," Rubin said. "I learned a lot here that I was able to take over, and that experience helped me."

Rubin will serve throughout the remainder of her high school career. She encourages other students not to let intimidation hold them back from big platforms.

"I think it's grown me as a person to be able to just use my voice and not be afraid," Rubin shared. "It's easy to get scared of things...but in those leadership positions and being on varsity, it allows me to grow. Seeing myself being a little freshman to now, I'm not scared anymore. I would say just don't be scared of new opportunities, because even though it seems so big and scary, it really isn’t. Just relax and have fun with it."

As Rubin prepares to dive into her junior year, she is ready to utilize her expanded platform to make a lasting difference in the Imperial Valley.