| Caroline LeBlanc Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
| Gabriel Morales Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
I am writing to apply to the Student Association for Fall 2021. With my
intended major being International Relations, my interest in the field of
politics and government is very high. My brief professional experience includes volunteer work for Bernie Sanders’ 2020 presidential campaign which gave me the opportunity to have an insight of the inner workings of politics and representation of people. An additional experience I have include being Student Body President of my high school along with being class president my senior year, from these experiences my awareness of representation and ideas have heightened. The culmination of my involvement shows my passion and interest in student government that enhances the student experience and will allow me to grow personally and professionally in my field. Being a part of an organization that prioritizes inclusion and student involvement is extremely important and has inspired a tremendous amount of interest. I would be honored to join this association because it is based on teamwork and representation of the student body, which I highly value and want to be a part of. |
| Heidi Currin Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
Upon learning about the open position on the Assembly of the Student Association, I was eager to apply and
demonstrate my interest. When reviewing the description, I was excited to see how well my experience and
desire to make a difference in the school community aligns with the Student Association's purpose and
requirements. I believe that my professional and communication strengths will be a great asset to SA and I
am eager to contribute my experience towards helping others and being a leader in the community. As a previous Assistant Teacher, I have a well-rounded skill set in leadership, planning, organization, and honed talents in project management and teamwork support, making me an ideal fit for the Assembly. Further, I am a recognized expert in collaboration and motivating others. My previous roles have strengthened my capabilities in management, including keen attention to detail and strong goal orientation. I have an unwavering work ethic and am dedicated to ensuring that the voices of my peers are substantially heard and represented in SA. I am passionate about helping others and am looking forward to making a lasting difference on campus. My leadership style can be recognized through my desire to make others feel included, heard, and uplifted in meaningful and productive discussion and action. Some of my ideas that I would like to contribute to SA include creating and organizing more programs to connect first-year students, as the transition can be difficult for people in many different ways. I would also like to implement an initiative to connect students of similar majors to aid in academic support. I am eager to encourage first-year students to speak up about their concerns across the University and would be honored to advocate for my peers. I want to make other students feel comfortable and empowered to voice their opinions to me so that I can do everything necessary to make the environment a better place for all. I am excited at the prospect of bringing my talents and efforts to the Syracuse University Student Association. I look forward to hearing from you and to making a difference inside and outside the classroom and throughout the University. My qualifications and dedication will prove valuable to the Assembly of SA. Thank you for your time and consideration. |
| Hunter Luke Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
My name is Hunter Luke. I am one of this great university’s newest members. One who hopes to soon be
making it a better place for all its students. The Syracuse University Student Association is the exact place
to be making such an impact and that is why I am running for a first-year position in its assembly. During my time in high school, I was my class’s secretary and vice president during my junior and senior years respectively. As well, I was the student council’s liaison to the school’s assembly planning board my senior year. In these positions, I worked with students, faculty, and community members on various issues to better the school and its students’ experience. One such example of this was my work in our student council to establish solar power as one of the school’s main sources of energy. Through the student council's efforts and the help of environmentally conscious community members, a plan to install solar panels was approved last March and work began this August. The positions I have held and the experiences that came with them have made me a much better listener. Listening is an essential part of being in the Student Association and is one of the main responsibilities of the organization. If the Student Association is not getting input from students, then it is difficult for the association to advocate for them as their interests are not being made clear. That being said, many Syracuse students seem unaware of the Student Association and all that it does. If elected, I would like to work towards bringing more awareness to the organization so that it can do an even better job at representing the students. As a member of the Student Association, I would gain invaluable experience while bringing valuable skills that will help in furthering the association’s mission. I look forward to the upcoming elections and hope to soon be a part of this great organization. Thank you for your time and all you do for the students of this university. |
| Jack McCarty Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
In my short time here at Syracuse I have been greeted with a vast array of diversity here
on campus. Coming from a rather rural area in Pennsylvania, this cultural change was
empowering. Growing up, it was not always easy being surrounded by those with a closed mind.
While I know those around me, in my community at home, had innocent intentions, their
ignorance blinded them. They were ignorant in areas of gender, sexuiality, faith, creed and more.
I took it upon myself to dive into a plethora of organizations that promoted inclusion and strong
leadership. Organizations that I was involved in included Boy Scouts of America, Student
Government, National Honor Society, Future Farmers of America, Health Council, and Boys
Varsity Volleyball. These organizations taught me the importance of finding fellowship,
strengthening leadership, and other professional skills. Leadership not only fuels me as an individual but warrants me to influence my peers. In BSA and FFA I was taught the importance of growing my own leadership while fostering leadership in those around me. I find pleasure working in groups to accomplish a common goal for the betterment of the body that we are serving. A servant attitude is key in leadership and makes it possible to be open to those of differences in opinion. While at Syracuse, I have been looking for an organization that encompases my array of passions. In researching I found the Student Association. It is my understanding that the Student Association is a place where student leaders come together to make positive changes in the lives of both Syracuse and ESF students. Student Association is also key in improving the leadership of its members. The opportunity to be in the Student Association excites me. I feel as if I have a well rounded background and strong leadership qualities. I know that being a member of the Student Association would help me develop my skills further through working with fellow members. In the Student Association I would strive to be a strong advocate for all students. Syracuse University is an amazing school full of hardworking scholars. It would make me proud to serve the student body with an open mind partnered with a goal of improving our community for everyone. Please feel free to contact me using the email and phone number above! Thank you very much for this opportunity! |
| Kennedy Williams Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
My name is Kennedy Williams and I am pleased to be applying for the position of
Assembly in the Student Association. I was overjoyed to find this option was available
as I have been a prospective member since applying to the school. I am a freshman at Syracuse University with a major in Anthropology. My work experiences in the past have been at Chick-fil-A and Peace Love Pizza, a local pizza shop in my area, and now as a Student Office Assistant in the College of Law. All of these opportunities, especially Chick-fil-A, engraved a sense of hospitality and quality service to others, and though I do not personally support the company, I learned very valuable lessons while working there. I was forced to add efficiency and top tier troubleshooting skills to my repertoire, both skills I've used not only in the workplace but in my community. I’d love the opportunity to use my strengths and work amongst people who share my passion for change, advocacy, and community service. As a student in high school I was involved in theatre, I was a part of both acting and technical theatre & had success on both sides of the stage. On the technical side I was able to stay organized putting together full shows, with a team of course, and watch it execute itself. I was awarded the most valuable ensemble member due to my ability to solve a high stress situation that came up opening night. Being able to handle a lot of responsibility and manage multiple tasks is not something new to me and is something I know I can do effectively. I also won class clown, but the only good that did was boost my ego. As a member of the Student Association, I would provide organization, diligence, and a good laugh every now and then. I have many ideas I'd love to share with this school if given the opportunity, such as a greater effort in sustainability. I'm hoping that as a rising freshman, if I am awarded a position, by the time I graduate I will have developed an advanced understanding of not only Syracuse University’s student body and how to serve them, but anything else it has to offer me just by being in the environment. |
| Mariah Schwambach Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
It is with great enthusiasm that I submit my application to the Student Association of
Syracuse University. My name is Mariah and I'm asking you to consider having me as an at-large
Assembly Member. I have been part of SA for this past school year, and from that time have
taken great pleasure and pride in being part of the organization and seeing what we, as student
leaders, can do for the Student Body. My participation in extracurricular activities in high school
and college allowed me to learn how to effectively balance the tasks with which I was posed,
while simultaneously managing my schoolwork. Being an international student, I have repeatedly been exposed to new cultures and diverse groups of people. This has made me able to quickly adapt to changes and gain a broader perspective. I am always curious about things and enjoy learning. Moreover, I solve problems in creative and innovative ways and am also a detail-oriented person who keeps goals and tasks organized to maintain productivity. By electing me, you will be electing someone who has experience with SA, from being an Assembly Representative and the Director of International Student Concerns, as well as someone that knows how to work collectively, and who has very strong interpersonal and communication skills. You would be electing someone who strives for excellence and who's very determined and a hard worker. Some of my most strong personal traits are determination, problem-solving skills, trustworthiness, cheerfulness, as well as I'm a very easy-going, outgoing, outspoken, and ambitious person. I want SA to continue to succeed and to be a positive organization that brings about positive change at our university. I would like to find myself even more engaged with the association, by being reelected, in order to create a successful and inclusive atmosphere in which every person can flourish and excel both academically and socially. I thank you for taking the time to read this letter and I very much hope to find myself working with you. |
| Melanie Salas Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) |
When the name "Student association" is said around campus or comes out of the
mouth of students apart of this organization, the word "Student association" for some
people might mean to them as being a part of an organization that will help them
build leadership within themselves, help the community to make a change, hear
people opinions that will make the school a healthy environment and etc. However
for me the name "Student association" not only does it mean the same as the other’s but to
me, it is not only a name but it is being a part of something big and when I mean big I
mean humongous. Not only do I get to help our society by making a difference and gaining leadership skills, however, but it is also something that I can take into consideration in what goes on in our real life today. Growing up, life wasn’t easy for me, my family and I lost our home in Seattle Washington and we had to start a new life in Houston. It was a new beginning to a new chapter, I had to start everything new again by making friends and get used to a new environment that I have never been to before. I entered in a new school and I was blind with memory of knowing nothing, it got to the point in where the teacher’s would refer me as being "dumb" making me feel unworthy, not only did it make me feel this way but as for my parents even though they tried everything to try to help me to change they didn’t know what else to do. As I grew up older, I got help from teachers from being in tutorials and hanging around friends that would help me succeed in life. By the time I got to high school, I didn’t even recognize myself, I wasn’t the shy Melanie I was before. I was a part of many organization’s for instance, Marching band, Softball, HOSA (Health occupation of America), LULAC ( Latin American club), friends club, etc. The clubs that really made a big impact on me were HOSA and softball, in both of these organizations not only was I a leader but I was a team captain in softball and a Historian officer in HOSA. From these clubs, I learned the most important thing which I will forever take in my life which is never someone who you aren’t and to just be yourself. In life, many people might call you a certain adjective which for me it was the word "dumb" for which I still remind myself of that word not to take it as a hateful word but as a compliment. Why you may ask? Because that word not only made me grow from where I am today but it helped me realize that that word helped me reach my challenges to never give up in life and push forward to being the first generation in my family to enter college. Being able to accomplish my dream one day in becoming a veterinarian to find a cure for animals to have a second chance in life like us humans. Being a part of the "Student Association" will not only make another impact in my life but as well I would like to show others that we shouldn’t be afraid to show our opinions towards others. As for my situation, I am a young lady and in today’s society not a lot of people listen to women because most people think our mindset of women is unworthy which is unfair in every aspect, but I want to help everyone in the community and as well I have a plan to hopefully make a remark for the student’s who sadly died by getting ran over by the trolley’s because they are apart of our community as well and should be known for their accomplishments for being apart of this school and all their sacrifice that they did to get here just like all the other students. As a member of the Student Association, I hope to gain from upperclassmen in how I can work for myself in being a better communicator and I would like to return the help I received throughout the years of my life and be able to come up with ideas that will not only help me but how I can be as a support for others who are behind in theirs live and for what they believe it is right for this community to come together as it is once again forming with all the different problems helping at the moment. Overall, helping to make new relationships in the society of happiness. |
| Samantha Etess Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) | It is with great pleasure that I introduce myself, my name is Samantha Etess, and I am eager to announce that I am interested in holding the position of a VPA representative on the Student Association Board. I am a junior majoring in Political Philosophy in Maxwell and minoring in Drama in VPA, all while being on a prelaw track. Recently, I have been given the opportunity to perform as an intern for a psychology practice. With that, my duties consist of creating ideas on spreading awareness to the multiple aspects that embody mental health and branches of caring for one’s well-being and implementing policy changes to better enhance the practice as a whole. This piqued my interest in running for a position for the Student Association. VPA is a secret gem that belongs to Syracuse University because the creative ideas and intentions from the students to broaden the horizons of this campus are infinite and need to be surfaced, and I believe I would make the perfect candidate to get people excited about this. I want to incorporate new ideas and enhance preexisting ones to make our school eye-catching and full of spirit in this arena. How do I know I can do this? As a junior in high school, after the tragic school shooting in Parkland Florida, I noticed how lax school security really was and I was determined to prevent anything traumatic from happening to my fellow classmates and faculty. Working closely with my principle, I developed the Student’s for Safety organization, which promoted efficient and necessary ways to keep our school community out of harm’s way. One simple measure that we equipped was creating student and staff scannable ID cards and made it a requirement for them to be worn at all times, particularly for access into the building. When I set my mind to something, I will do anything in my power to make that goal a reality. As a VPA Representative, it will be my mission to identify causes that my fellow peers are passionate about and find ways to generate awareness and take action to support those causes. |
| Sidney Allen Candidate for Assembly (At-Large) | My name is Sidney Allen, and I am a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences and Maxwell. I am running to be an at-large assembly representative. Since high school I’ve been involved in student government, and I’ve always wanted to continue that in college. I especially want to be a part of the Student Association at Syracuse because I admire how much the school values the opinions of its students. I feel as though I can express my ideas and the needs of the student body through this position and can really be heard. I frequently hear about facets of the university that my peers feel should be modified, and I think I would be a great person to voice those opinions from a position of leadership. These ideas include making the university a more environmentally sustainable space, creating a more inclusive community for all students regardless of their backgrounds, and promoting mental health. I also believe that there should be a forum for all students to communicate with leadership about initiatives they would like to see put in place. If this already exists, I would be interested in increasing its advertising so that all students see it as a way to be heard. I also view this position as a great way for me to further my leadership skills so that I can grow as an individual and learn from my experiences. If given this opportunity I will be actively present at every meeting, and I will always exert maximum effort to represent the student body. Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I am excited for everything going forward. |