SGA Elects New Officers for 2005-2006

Amanda Hurt, Staff Writer

With the school year just barely getting started South Plains College’s Student Government Association is already busy planning an eventful year.

The SGA is the governing factor of the student body, with their responsibility being to carry out the policies that pertain to student life. They also assist in the planning of student activities around the SPC campus.

The SGA officers are both elected and appointed. The officers consist of two elected offices, the president and vice president, an executive board ratified by the Senate, 10 senators and a representative from each club or organization.

The SGA elected sophomore Keva Garner as the new president at the end of last year. Garner was born and raised in Levelland, and graduated from Levelland High School in 2003. During her high school years, she was active in Student Council, 4-H, FFA, cheerleading, stock show, National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes. This is her second year in SGA, as she previously served as a senator. In addition to serving as SGA president, Garner also is on the State Executive Board.

“ I wanted to be able to further expose South Plains College to the rest of the state,” said Garner. “As president of the Student Government Association, I plan to do everything in my power to do so.”

After she leaves SPC in May, she plans to transfer to Texas Tech University to finish her degree in business finance.

Other members of SGA include: vice president Megan King from Lubbock; secretary, Kristin Carroll, Meadow; Senators: Wendy De LaRosa, Denver City, senator; Leo Sanchez, Denver City, senator; Kandee Nichols, Loop, senator; Myka Collins, Levelland, senator; Jaree Cornell, Graham, senator; Josie Rodriguez, Kermit, senator; Brittney Kingsley, Houston, senator; Ruben Salinas Jr., Lamesa, senator; John Lopez, Whitharral, senator.

Those serving on the Executive Board are: King; Carroll; treasurer David Moore, Whitharral; historian Charollette Nichols, Whitharral; parliamentarian Josh Watson, Abernathy; and senate majority leader Chon Moron, Beeville.

The SGA assists students with any problem they might run into, such as parking problems and visitation. With a member of SGA on basically every board at SPC, problems get taken care of efficiently as possible.

“ What is so great about being a part of the Student Government Association is I am able to help other students out with their problems,” Moore said. “And we all do our best to see that it gets solved.”

Among the many activities to keep the SGA busy this year is their role as the hosts of the Student Government Association State Convention, which will be held March 29-April 2 in Fort Worth.  There are six regions in Texas composed of 81 schools, with SPC being in Region 1.

“We will be doing everything that goes into making a convention possible,” said Stan Weatherred, director of student activities.

The SGA is responsible for choosing the hotel room, coordinating events, setting up meeting rooms, handing out plagues and t-shirts, among other things. They will also be attending the Regional Convention in October in Amarillo.

The SGA has already sponsored a Meet and Greet Cookout, Welcome Back Dance, and Free Game Night.

“We’re in the process of getting more fundraisers together to help get more students involved,” said Garner.

Throughout the year, they will sponsor on-campus dances and lend their hands to such activities as Beauty and The Beast, Mrs. Caprock Pageant, Halloween Carnival and Midnight Madness. The SGA will also work in conjunction with Levelland’s Main Street to sponsor the annual Barbeque Cook-off held downtown.

“The Student Government is such a great organization because it give students a place to go and meet new people and feel like you a part of something for a good cause,” said Garner.

The SGA meets every Tuesday from 12:15 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. For additional information about the SGA, contact Weatherred at 894-9611 ext. 2377.