Sanford Sophomore Attends Signing of Beau Biden Act

She put her convictions and skills to the test by working with two other students to sponsor Wilmington’s March for Our Lives. On March 24th, students and other supporters started at Howard High and ended their walk with a rally on Rodney Square in Wilmington.

One of the those in attendance to offer support, without the benefit of Secret Service protection, was former Vice President Joe Biden. Smith acted as the emcee for the day’s events, and Biden took notice of this poised and articulate student activist. So much so, that he invited her to be his personal guest at another special event.

On April 30th, Smith was present at the Biden Institute on the University of Delaware campus to join the Biden family and others as they witnessed Delaware Governor John Carney sign the Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act into law. She was seated, along with four students invited by the governor, directly behind the Delaware state representatives, with all students receiving recognition and a standing ovation led by Biden and Carney.

The Beau Biden Gun Violence Prevention Act fulfills a promise Biden made to his late son and Delaware’s former attorney general to continue to fight for gun control. The bill limits access to the purchase of firearms by people suffering from mental illness who are a potential threat to themselves or others, as determined by mental health professionals. The law passed unanimously in the General Assembly.

In addition to her work with the youth board, Smith is an honor roll student who plays field hockey and tennis, is an active member of Sanford Repretory Theatre Company, and is president of the school’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She credits her commitment to service and philanthropic work with giving her the self-confidence to pursue her passion as a community advocate. “Attending the signing of this important bill, and as the guest of Vice-President Biden, certainly was not on my radar a year ago. I have discovered I like taking leadership roles and serving my community. I plan to attend training this summer as an EMT for the Longwood Fire Company. I am getting out into the real world, but I am relying heavily on the leadership skills and self-confidence I am learning and developing at Sanford.”