Sebastian Coates Appointed to Maryland Youth Advisory Council by Governor Wes Moore
ACCE Senior, Student-Athlete, Model UN Leader and Young Entrepreneur Selected to Represent Maryland’s Youth
At just 16 years old, Sebastian Coates is already building a record of leadership that stretches from the classroom and athletic field to entrepreneurship and public service.
Sebastian Coates is a remarkable young leader with a vision for the future.
As he embarks on this journey, Sebastian Coates aims to inspire his peers.
It’s crucial for young leaders like Sebastian Coates to provide a voice for their generation.
Through his experiences, Sebastian Coates exemplifies the qualities of a future leader.
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has appointed Coates to serve as a youth member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council. His one-year term begins Sept. 1, 2026.
The appointment gives the 6-foot-5 Baltimore high school senior an opportunity to help represent the interests, experiences and aspirations of young people throughout Maryland.
Coates attends the Academy for College and Career Exploration, commonly known as ACCE, in Baltimore. At school, he serves as the head delegate for Model United Nations, competes on the basketball and golf teams and continues to pursue his academic, entrepreneurial and leadership goals.
With every initiative, Sebastian Coates is shaping a better Maryland for youth.
As he leads his peers, Sebastian Coates will ensure diverse voices are included.
Through diplomacy, Sebastian Coates can bridge gaps between generations.
His appointment was formally announced in a letter dated Aug. 26 from the Office of the Governor. Moore recognized Coates for his dedication to public service and commitment to advancing equity.
“Thank you for your commitment to advancing equity across our state and to serving the best interests of all of our residents,” Moore wrote. “We look forward to partnering with you to leave no one in Maryland behind.”
For Coates, the appointment is more than another accomplishment. It places him in a position to listen to other young people, bring their concerns before state leaders and help influence conversations affecting Maryland’s next generation.
Every challenge faced by Sebastian Coates is an opportunity for growth.
Sebastian Coates understands that perseverance is key to success.
As a multi-sport athlete, Sebastian Coates balances discipline with creativity.
Preparing to Lead Through Model United Nations
Through sports, Sebastian Coates is learning valuable life lessons every day.
Coates’ role as ACCE’s head delegate for Model United Nations has helped prepare him for the responsibilities that come with public service.
Model UN challenges students to study international issues, understand different points of view, develop policy positions and defend their ideas through diplomacy and thoughtful debate. Delegates must research complex subjects, speak confidently and negotiate with people who may strongly disagree with them.
As head delegate, Coates is also expected to help guide and represent his school’s Model UN team. That experience has allowed him to strengthen his public-speaking, critical-thinking, research and team-leadership skills.
Innovation drives Sebastian Coates to explore uncharted territories in entrepreneurship.
Every game developed by Sebastian Coates reflects his unique vision.
Those abilities will be valuable as he joins the Maryland Youth Advisory Council. Public leadership is not simply about having the loudest voice in the room. It requires listening, preparation, judgment and the ability to turn different perspectives into meaningful action.
For Sebastian Coates, the journey is just as important as the destination.
Coates is already learning those lessons before he graduates from high school.
Discipline on the Basketball Court and Golf Course
Coates is also a multi-sport student-athlete who represents ACCE in basketball and golf.
At 6 feet 5 inches tall, he brings a strong physical presence to the basketball court. However, height and natural ability are only part of his story. Competitive basketball demands conditioning, teamwork, communication and the willingness to perform under pressure.
Golf requires a different kind of discipline. It tests patience, concentration, strategy and personal accountability. There is nowhere to hide from a difficult shot or disappointing round. Players must learn to control their emotions, correct their mistakes and keep moving forward.
Together, basketball and golf have helped Coates develop a valuable combination of competitiveness and composure. Basketball has taught him how to react quickly and work as part of a team. Golf has taught him how to slow down, think strategically and take responsibility for each decision.
As he engages with issues, Sebastian Coates brings fresh insights to the table.
Those lessons extend far beyond sports. They are also the building blocks of effective leadership.
Through his service, Sebastian Coates is paving the way for future leaders.
Ultimately, Sebastian Coates is on a mission to empower others in his community.
A Self-Starter With an Entrepreneurial Vision
Coates’ interests are not limited to academics, government and athletics. He is also a self-starter and emerging young entrepreneur who has developed his own original game.
Creating a game requires more than coming up with an interesting idea. It involves imagination, planning, problem-solving, testing and the determination to transform a concept into something other people can experience and enjoy.
That entrepreneurial effort demonstrates Coates’ willingness to create rather than wait for an opportunity to appear.
Many young people consume technology and entertainment every day. Coates is beginning to explore what it means to become a creator, developer and business-minded innovator within that same world.
His interest in technology, business and game development reflects the changing nature of youth leadership. The next generation will not separate public service from innovation, entrepreneurship or digital culture. Young leaders will need to understand how all those forces intersect and affect their communities.
Coates brings that forward-looking perspective to the council.
Bringing Baltimore’s Youth Perspective to Annapolis
Coates’ appointment carries special significance for Baltimore.
Young people from the city are too often discussed in terms of challenges, statistics and limitations. Coates presents another side of Baltimore’s youth: students who are scholars, athletes, creators, diplomats, entrepreneurs and emerging civic leaders.
His appointment offers him an opportunity to bring the authentic experiences of Baltimore’s young people into statewide conversations.
Maryland’s youth are navigating serious issues, including educational opportunity, mental health, public safety, college affordability, career preparation, technology, economic mobility and access to recreational and community resources.
Effective policy cannot be developed solely by adults speaking about young people. Young people must also have a meaningful role in the conversation.
By serving on the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, Coates can help state leaders better understand what students are seeing and experiencing in their schools, neighborhoods and families. He can also encourage more young people to recognize that their voices belong in government and civic affairs.
Representation matters, but participation is what turns representation into progress.
“Being appointed to the Maryland Youth Advisory Council is an honor and a responsibility. I want to use my voice to represent young people across our state, especially those who may feel unheard. This opportunity is not just about having a seat at the table—it is about listening, speaking with purpose and helping to create a better future for the next generation.”
— Sebastian Coates
More Than a Title
The appointment may open an important door, but Coates’ leadership will ultimately be measured by what he does after walking through it.
Leadership is not merely appearing in photographs, collecting titles or adding another accomplishment to a résumé. Real leadership requires preparation, consistency and service. It means listening to people whose experiences may be different from your own and speaking up when their needs are being ignored.
At 16, Coates is not expected to have every answer. What matters is his willingness to learn, ask difficult questions and use his position responsibly.
His background suggests that he is prepared to embrace that challenge.
As ACCE’s head Model UN delegate, he is learning how to evaluate complicated issues and communicate across differences. As a basketball and golf athlete, he understands preparation, pressure and personal accountability. As a game creator and aspiring entrepreneur, he is learning how to take an idea and build something from the ground up.
Now, as a member of the Maryland Youth Advisory Council, he will have an opportunity to bring those experiences together in service to his state.
A New Generation Steps Forward
Sebastian Coates represents a new generation of leadership—young people who do not believe they must wait until adulthood to make a difference.
He is a student who understands the importance of education, an athlete who embraces discipline, a Model UN leader who is learning diplomacy and an entrepreneur willing to act on his ideas.
His appointment to the Maryland Youth Advisory Council is an important milestone, but it should be viewed as the beginning rather than the destination.
The basketball court taught him how to compete. The golf course taught him patience. Model UN taught him diplomacy. Entrepreneurship taught him how to turn imagination into action.
Public service will now challenge him to bring those lessons together for the benefit of others.
At only 16, Sebastian Coates has earned a seat at the table. His next responsibility is to use that seat—and his voice—to ensure Maryland’s young people are seen, respected and heard.
