We qualify for these positions because of our determination to make UCF a better place, our ability to be empathetic leaders and understand student concerns, and most importantly, our experiences throughout the university. Our goal is to improve the UCF experience for all students, and we are willing to do what it takes to see our initiatives succeed. We also believe in the importance of thoughtfulness when developing relationships and trust with the student body and our team. Finally, Brandon has served in various positions within Student Government and the university, and Colby has developed his leadership skills through roles at the Recreation & Wellness Center and other entities at the university. Our experience will allow for a smooth transition into these leadership positions and allow us to have a deeper understanding of students’ needs.

These positions can be used to help the student body by advocating on behalf of them for their needs and concerns, and implementing positive change around campus. The President and Vice President have the opportunity to sit in many meetings with some of the most important administration on campus, which makes their role so important in enacting change. Because they are the voice of the students, they have a crucial responsibility to always be servant leaders, putting the students’ needs before themselves. Through the President’s role on the Board of Trustees and the Vice President’s role on various university committees, these positions have the ability to make UCF a better university.

Brandon has had vast experience in Student Government, previously serving as the Chief of Staff, the Academic Affairs Coordinator, the Chair of the Scholarship Committee, and on the Executive Leadership Council. He is also an active brother of Tau Kappa Epsilon, a member of the President’s Leadership Council, Deans’ Leadership Council, and previously served on the Member Services team at the Recreation & Wellness Center. All of these prior involvements have shaped his leadership style based on the importance of servant leadership, serving others before himself, which is something that he will take with him as Student Body President.
Colby is currently a Building Manager at the Recreation & Wellness Center, where he manages all of the facilities and ensures that the RWC remains safe and inclusive. He has previously served on the Member Services team, and has attended many conferences regarding diversity in recreation. He is an active brother of Theta Chi, where he served as the Librarian and Chair of the Standards Committee. He is currently the Digital Media Coordinator of Student Government within the Executive Branch. Throughout these experiences, he has greatly impacted the community around him and hopes to bring his kind and caring attitude with him in his role as Student Body Vice President.

Some qualities that we share are that we are both strong public speakers and are very outgoing, which will allow us to reach out to the students that we represent and hear their concerns, while providing feedback and suggestions. We both believe in servant leadership and understand that as we serve in these roles, we are representing the students and are determined to represent something greater than ourselves. We are also thoughtful and empathetic and believe that these qualities are important in leadership to understanding the students we have to serve, as well as being able to work alongside a team of other student leaders to reach our goals. Finally, we both want to be disciplined in the goals that we set for ourselves and our team to ensure that our initiatives are achieved.

We chose to run for these positions because throughout our experiences at UCF, we have seen areas on campus that could be improved and believe that serving as President and Vice President, we would have the ability to make the change that we want to see. We understand the importance of both of these roles and believe that we have the experience and drive to serve in these roles to their fullest extent. We are determined to build trust with the student body, and will listen to their concerns, so we are able to serve them effectively. There is an immense amount of resources for UCF students to utilize and therefore, one of our goals is to make sure that those resources are advertised and communicated to the student body. Overall, as we enter our final year at UCF, we want to leave the university better than when we first arrived.

This candidacy combines the strength of experience inside the Student Government Senate with the ability to look at things from an outsider’s perspective. Both candidates have immense experience in the legislative processes, with Michael Kostis serving as a Student Government Senator since Fall of 2021 and Nathan Lax helping to draft and speaking at forums in favor of legislation that would benefit the student body, such as legislation to expand student involvement in the democratic process through voter registration, student holiday on election day, and lobbying reform.
The qualifications extend past Student government alone, however, as both candidates have been heavily involved in advocacy. Nathan Lax has lobbied in Washington D.C, fighting for economic justice through paid family and medical leave. During this experience, he learned the importance of speaking truth to power. He has also delivered award-winning performances while competing with the UCF Mock Trial team, learning to handle pressure and keep a level head in the face of opposition. As Student Body President, he will continue to uphold these values and fight for what he believes in using the skills he learned in these positions. Michael Kostis has a detailed track record of speaking and fighting for students – as a Senator, he has passed handfuls of legislation that serve in the interest of the student body, he served as Vice-Chair of the SG Women’s Caucus and helped organize the Women’s Empowerment Conference, he organized a UCF Public Safety Town Hall which gave students a platform to directly address their concerns directly to faculty like UCF PD and UCF Emergency Management, he also worked directly with the Orange County Environmental Protection Division to advocate for recycling in off-campus housing while also advocating for sustainability on campus, lastly he has been an active force within the Florida Prison Education Project at UCF, understanding the importance of education and extending the privilege of knowledge to those who would otherwise find it inaccessible. These experiences have provided a foundation upon which we will utilize our skills and backgrounds to serve, fight for, and represent all students at the University of Central Florida.

The Student Body positions of President and Vice President allow for a liaison between the Student Body and the Administration of UCF. The Student Body President’s position on the Board of Trustees and other organizations that run the University of Central Florida allows for greater advocacy than would be otherwise unavailable to other positions within the Student Government. In addition, the partnership with an Executive cabinet, and being members of both the Board of Trustees and the UCF Faculty Senate, guarantee that the President and Vice President can extend outreach to all facets of student life. Consequently, the President and Vice President will need to be more in touch with the needs and opinions of students at the University and it will be the duty of the Student Body executives to keep up with these changing demands and represent them accordingly.
The University of Central Florida comprises of the second-largest student body in the nation. To understand the full scope of students’ needs, we will expand our involvement to the campuses of Lake Nona, Downtown Orlando, and the Rosen College of Hospitality. Each section of the student body will likely have different concerns, but each one must be heard and relayed to the administration and faculty leadership of the University. We will also be working closely with the various caucuses present within Student Government using our platform to promote events like a Black Business Showcase, or town halls – the possibilities are limitless. The purpose of the position is to not only represent but fight for students, and doing so requires the ability to speak up and communicate their sentiments, feelings, and concerns.

Our prior campus involvement has been varied. Michael Kostis has been involved in the Student Government Legislative branch, in the context of a senator for the College of Sciences, also serving briefly as Women’s Caucus Chair. With his position, he has worked with and fostered connections with the Orange County Environmental Division to bring even more environmental sustainability to UCF; he also works in the Florida Prison Education Project throughout the week to help incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals incarcerated receive high-quality education. As a result, our time in office will be more effective as we understand the legislative and internal processes of UCF Student Government and the connections that have been made will be used to their fullest extent in creating harmony between the branches.
Nathan Lax has been involved in Mock Trial at UCF, working closely with a team and giving expert testimony under intense scrutiny. He is also active in Jewish life organizations such as Chabad, Hillel, and Yehudi. Consequently, he is in touch with faith-based organizations and the sense of community they provide for those who would otherwise find themselves without a support structure. Appreciation support for these and organizations similar in purpose will be a top priority for the presidency, so that students will be able to feel at home while attending UCF.

We both share strong passions and an understanding of communication’s importance to leadership positions. The passion that we have for the cause of making the UCF experience as enjoyable as possible will carry through our jobs as Student Body President and Vice President. Constantly changing needs of students will require us to be adaptable and to always work towards solutions.
We will bring our passion, communication, and adaptability to everything we do in the executive positions of Student Government. In implementing these values into our work, we will be encouraging town halls with the administration where students will be able to have their personal concerns addressed. We will also strive to be in contact with both student organizations and students on an individual level best to serve the needs of the overall student body.

We believe that SG has not fully utilized the capabilities for student activism. The platform afforded to the Student body President and Vice President can be used to promote causes that students are passionate about. For instance, spreading awareness of events such as the Black Business Showcase. In addition, many students feel as though they are not having their voices heard by the administration of UCF. Over the course of this academic year, we have both seen students distrust the handling of affairs by the administration. We believe there is a will to communicate more openly on both sides; the administration and the students want to make their thoughts and feelings known regarding the university’s running.
The job of the Student Body President and Vice President is to facilitate that communication. It is a duty that we treat with the utmost importance. Facilitating dialogue between the student body and the administration will be at the very heart of our actions during our term. Our mission statement and slogan is “Leadership that listens,” and it is one that we strive to live up to. Anybody can listen, but we will to act to make a difference.

Throughout our time here at UCF, we have provided help to our Hispanic community in numerous ways, held leadership positions at our Cuban-American Student Association, and have volunteered for numerous events along with attending leadership conferences such as The Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement at UCF Student Success Conference, and Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) 36th Annual Conference.

It is our believe, that should we be elected for this position, we can bring breath of fresh air to the usual leadership style at SG. We love being involved with the UCF community and we’d like to have a more personal connection with the community and see us as friends not as President/Vice President. This position provides the necessary tools and connections for us the achieve the aforementioned.

Kalec Rodriguez is currently involved in numerous leadership positions and community centered activities, including collaborations with the on campus hispanic/latino RSO’s, has been selected to represent the UCF students at the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) at the 36th Annual Conference in San Diego, California, will be helping as a mentor in the upcoming Latino’s in Action youth leadership conference hosted here at UCF and is the current President of the Cuban-American Student Association at UCF. Elizabet Perez is the marketing director at the Cuban-American Student Association, is a teaching assistant in the Immunology Laboratory, and is a part of Fashion Society at UCF. They have volunteered at numerous events for the hispanic/latino community at UCF and have attended conferences like the The Ginsburg Center for Inclusion and Community Engagement at UCF Student Success Conference. These activities and campus involvement will affect our leadership style as we are constantly surrounded by UCF students and see the needs and gaps in our community.

Some qualities that we have that would help us succeed in this position are how outgoing, friendly, people-oriented, creative, and solution-driven we are. These qualities will be applied when we have to interact with our student body and colleagues and understand the needs of who we are representing. We want to make our community a priority and see how we can help in creative and efficient ways.

We chose to run for this position because we want to seek change in student government and want to ensure that student voices are heard and listened, to the best of our ability. As stated previously, we are very involved in different and diverse communities within our campus and feel like we can serve as a fair representation of our student body. We are aiming for our student community to look at us as friends and not just as President/Vice President.

I qualify for this position because of my experience as a Hispanic immigrant, because of my status as a transfer student, and because of my major.

This position can be used to help the student body through representation, and my qualifications are directly related to said representation. Simply put, my experience as a Hispanic immigrant, as a transfer student (on scholarships), and as a History major (or member of the College of Arts and Humanities) offers an unprecedented view and representation. I can relate to a large amount of the student body, as a large number of our student body is Hispanic, and has transferred from nearby colleges. As for my major, I recognize that there are recent attacks by the state of Florida on teaching, and it is my opinion that we, as representatives of our large and diverse student body, should act to keep our teaching thorough and unbiased from extremist, chauvinist views. I know that the humanities are one of the primary areas being targeted by the revisionism of our history and society, and I intend to fight against said revisionism, extremism, and chauvinism.

To keep it very brief, I believe that I am qualified for this position because I have the attitude of somebody that wants to help and I have the track record to prove it. I strongly believe in servant leadership and altruism, two values that guide me daily; working in Student Government gives me the chance to help others in a meaningful way. I am extremely used to working with others collaboratively and I am a competent, confident leader. Additionally, my knowledge of UCF resources and systems in place (as a result from countless hours working as an Orientation Leader) makes SG a logical medium to shape student concerns into logical, real legislation that can be applied to UCF organizations.

I really like this question because it gives me the opportunity to share my personal beliefs. When I was extremely young – in elementary school – my father encouraged me to join the local Cub Scouts troop. This was extremely important to my personal development; later joining Boy Scouts, I learned a lot and it helped develop my character.
The first quality that I have comes in the form of a quote, and that is that I will always “do my best.” This quote is the central theme of Cub Scouts and is the approach everybody should take towards everything. I always – to my knowledge – give my all into everything that I do. In addition, any work that I do is always refined by the people closest to me in order to make sure that whatever is done is perfected even more.
The second quote that I want to share that I follow every day is to “always be prepared.” This comes from Boy Scouts, where scouts are challenged even more. It is my belief that everybody should always approach every situation with caution, ensuring that one has the tools and drive to push through whatever they come across. That is how I approach life.

I have been a member of the UCF community for 4 years. In that time I’ve formed great relationships with hundreds of UCF students. I’ve also been an active member of many RSO’s aimed at promoting beneficial public decision-making – from College Dems to YDSA to the Sierra Club and more. As you might guess, I study political science and economics, which I hope to utilize in improving my communities throughout my career. I already have a year of experience as a UCF senator under my belt, and hope to use another to continue pushing for change here on campus and in the Florida State Legislature. Current efforts I’m involved in include lobbying for students’ rights and educational interests to representatives in the Florida state legislature, advocating for an increased focus on normative ethics courses in the College of Business curriculum, making UCF’s secret lobbying budget public transparent and accountable to students, increasing UCF CAPs funding, and more.

One student is powerless to impact change on their own. Those with power in Tallahassee and the UCF administration will be too busy to take meetings with you, are already listening to input from a hundred different people, and frankly helping one student offers them little incentive or reward. If we really want to improve the campus community and our state, we have to work together. That’s what student government offers the potential for. When student government passes a bill, it carries the weight of the entire student body. That’s thousands of voices all put together, which can mean real influence over the people in power.

As someone who has been apart of SGLC, I have seen the innerworkings of SG and how they are diligent to create a change for UCF Students and would love to be apart of the new senate session and continue to hard work of the last session. I have been apart of Student government since 6th grade and would love to continue to work for my community to make this educational institution the most understanding and welcoming environment it can be. I have learned many things in my years of student government in my past educational institutions and I believe my skills of project management, communication, conflict resolution, and collaboration will be useful towards the UCF Senate Session.

A seat within the college of business would allow me to continue to advocate for business students and ensure that their comments and concerns about the education and experience within the college is being heard and taken to the one with the true control, the dean. This will help students have a more positive perspective about not only their college, but UCF as a whole

I had initially been appointed to the Senate with a mandate to bring together all of the Student Body through discourse on social and political matters while also wanting to embrace the diverse array of cultures herein. Should I be re-elected, I will move to follow through on such initiatives through large scale events, such as a Multicultural Festival and a Democratic Simulation, as well as smaller scale interactions with the student body in general through Coffee and Chess Meetings and frequent Town Halls with myself.

To be a representative of the Student Body requires that one advocates for the interests of the student body, which requires frequent and detailed interactions with one’s constituency. To that end, in fulfilling the promise I made in becoming a Student Senator, the two most important qualities of myself that I will bring back to Senate will be my willingness to discuss a topic at length and openness to new ideas, as through such deliberations can good ideas not only be brought to light, but also curated and perfected.

My qualifications for this position are best shown within the various roles I already hold in my professional and personal life. Currently, I am a member of the Senate Leadership Council in which I am working with my mentor in order to further understand the responsibilities and procedures of being a senator in Student Government. Within this, I chose to particularly focus on Title VIII, the financial code, in order to ensure that if I am elected for this position, I am well educated and qualified to handle legislation regarding financial allocation. During this time I have also prioritized learning about Title VI in order to ensure that my actions will be in line with the regulations and procedures of the Senate and Student Government as a whole. Besides my current experience in SLC, I feel my experience in other leadership roles assumed in my life have educated me in many respects in order to hold a position such as this. The most influential of these is most likely my experience within management at my previous job at Panera Bread. I held this position for roughly a year before leaving for school, and within that time I learned profusely about budgeting, accounting for inventory, allocating labor, conflict resolution, and developing a greater understanding for differing perspectives. This experience has allowed me to grow into an individual that is confident in my decisions and knowledge, while also understanding the importance of working with your team and seeking insight and perspective from each member. This is a quality I believe to be extremely important as an elected official working with a team with the objective of creating a community focused on student success and safety.

This position is crucial to student success within UCF, particularly with allocations of the Activity and Service Fee budget. With the current hit that is being taken this year with a loss of nearly 3 million dollars, I believe full transparency and awareness of allocations to be more important than ever. However, I also understand that these budget cuts will affect at risk students first and foremost. I am someone who is particularly passionate about advocating for at-risk students, particularly those from disadvantaged socioeconomic backgrounds, and those suffering from substance use and mental health issues. I believe UCF has done an amazing job in working to better this, however substance use and abuse is still a major threat to our students, as well as a cultural taboo that is often ignored rather than addressed. I believe in using this position to create more resources, as well as raise awareness to existing ones, for these students. I would wish to start this by firstly working with the Office of Student Involvement to organize an event to raise awareness to students on the accessibility of Narcan, and the procedures for use, available in the Health Center. From this, I also believe in making fentanyl testing kits available free of charge to students also through the Health Center.

Fundamentally, SGA has been an administrative and career minded position for the vast majority of senators. While senators talk of ‘transparency and representation’ the vast majority of their ‘advocacy’ fails to fundamentally challenge power in our communities. Student senators should use their positions to amplify student concerns, effectively acting as a force multiplier for those students organizing for change and power.

I firmly believe that the only quality that matters in a leadership position is a commitment to fighting for intersectional working class justice. No person is uniquely qualified for senate in my eyes as all the skills necessary can be easily learned in the chamber. What truly matters is a dedication to empowering the student body and never yielding the principles that got one into a leadership position.

I have lots of previous experience when it comes to student body positions. For my three years in high school, I was President of the E-Commerce academy with 200+ students. My role was to advocate their wants and needs to administration and execute any plans given to me efficiently and effectively. I’ve had to come up with many on-the-spot solutions when it came to managing finances. I’ve even gone as far as applying for grants myself just to get the money my fellow students needed to succeed in their visions. This and my current experience over the past two years of leading small groups through various stressful and difficult challenges gives me an edge over other students running for this position. I know the needs of students in my major, college, graduating class, and university, and I plan to advocate and support them however I can. I am super eager to begin learning all there is about student government at UCF and how I can be a critical part of improving our student organizations and the lives of students.e also wanting to embrace the diverse array of cultures herein. Should I be re-elected, I will move to follow through on such initiatives through large scale events, such as a Multicultural Festival and a Democratic Simulation, as well as smaller scale interactions with the student body in general through Coffee and Chess Meetings and frequent Town Halls with myself.

The main qualities that come to mind are being open-minded, being a listener, a leader, a learner, and a friend. I can listen to our student body, take their main points, and transfer it efficiently to solve any problem. My leadership skills have grown greatly since starting at UCF. I have learned from the best leaders in this country about all walks of leadership and have gotten many opportunities to execute and practice it. I want to take these qualities and bring them to the student government. I can quickly pick up new procedures, systems, or ways of doing things. Change is no stranger to me, and I’ve learned to accept it and use it to my advantage. Being friendly and open-minded are qualities that would separate me from others running. My willingness to listen and understand others gives me the ability to work with many different types of people and do so in a way that pleases all sides. I want to bring all of these to the student government to better our school, organizations, and most importantly, students.

I qualify for this position because I previously held a seat in the 54th session representing the College of Engineering and Computer Science Seat #1. In my time as a senator, I served as the Women’s Caucus Vice Chair and the Latin/Hispanic Vice Chair. These positions have taught what it is to be a good and effective leader.

This Senate seat can be used to help the student body because Senators are used to help organize funds, campus-wide events and much more. A Senate seat is very influential and can dictate what will happen in campus that year. Also, having a diverse Senate will bring differing views to the table and make sure that not only one idea is being presented.

I am determined, especially when the purpose is beyond me. I am open-minded. There are times when I am wrong or do not have the experience to answer so I am receptive to feedback, critique, and/or opinions. Because I am usually aware of my environment, I can determine when I should be the talker and when I should be the listener, which is a representation of my flexibility. Though I mentioned a few, I can apply these qualities with my constituents by putting myself in the position to be an effective team player. Not only does it assist me in reminding me of my purpose in the Senate, but it can also help my fellow representatives. As a voice for the community, these qualities will equip me to be approachable for those who need an ear that will listen and act on their behalf.

I chose to run for this position because I believe that I have prepared myself adequately to be in this position. Different types of service calls for different types of preparation. I’ve immersed myself in the variety of activities the university has tirelessly offered. I’ve engaged in the different opportunities the wonderful College of Community Innovation and Education has presented. I have discussed with many the experiences that I’ve prided in the school on and the ones that turned me green. I’ve investigated what a position like this demands and reflected on if I am at my best to step in and give my best to the people who have the same purpose as me: a student, here to learn and wanting to enjoy every second of it. I am ready to serve.

I believe I possess three main qualities that would help me succeed in a student government senate position. Firstly, I am a strong communicator and an active listener. I am able to express my ideas clearly and effectively, and I am also able to listen to and understand the concerns and needs of my peers. I believe that this is crucial in a senate position, as it allows me to represent the student body effectively and advocate for their needs.
Secondly, I am a problem solver, and I am able to think critically and creatively to find solutions to complex problems. In a senate position, I will apply this skill to address the challenges and issues facing the student body and work towards finding effective and sustainable solutions.
Lastly, I am a team player, and I am able to work collaboratively with others to achieve a common goal. I understand the importance of building relationships and partnerships, and I will apply this skill to work with other members of the senate and other organizations on campus to create positive change for the student body.
In summary, I believe that my communication skills, problem-solving abilities, and teamwork mindset will help me to be an effective member of the senate and work for the benefit of the student body.

I chose to run for this position because I believe that I can make a positive impact on my school and community. I have a strong passion for student advocacy, and I want to be a voice for my peers in the decision-making process of the school. I believe that being a member of the senate would give me the platform to work on the issues that matter to students and make meaningful changes to improve their overall experience at school.
I also believe that being a member of the senate would provide me with an opportunity to develop my leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills, which I think are valuable skills that will benefit me in the future. I am excited about the opportunity to represent my peers, work with other senate members, and collaborate with other organizations to create positive change for the student body.
Furthermore, I want to use my position to create a more inclusive, welcoming, and diverse environment, which I believe is crucial in making all students feel included, respected, and valued.
In short, I am running for this position because I want to make a meaningful difference in the lives of my peers, develop my own skills, and work towards creating a better school environment for all students.

I believe I qualify for the position of senator largely due to my capabilities regarding jurisprudence and my personal beliefs regarding representing my own college in the Student Government legislative body.
While I do not have experience regarding the Student Government political affairs of this university, I believe that this can also be a large benefit, as it allows a fresh set of eyes to give an unbiased perspective to the senate committees I wish to join.

This position has the ability to decide how the Student Government Association can spend its money along with rule making authority. To that end, I would love to use my position to help influence the university itself to make some quality of life changes that our main student body would appreciate. One of my positions is that the university must create on-campus housing for veterans who are exiting active service and pursuing a post secondary education here at UCF. As a man who understands the hardships that service members deal with, it is our duty as a public university to provide such accommodations.

I am currently a sitting member of Senate, my qualifications I believe are a mute point at this time.

I currently use my position to further the creation of a Peer Advocacy Program tied to SAS, and a Disability Commons to help further the equity disabled students like me need.

I am a very good listener and will think critically about all issues before forming my opinion. I don’t care whether I’m in the minority opinion. If I believe my way of thinking is correct, I will form a logical argument to advocate for my position and debate it. I am also very open-minded to different opinions and will hear them out and try to understand where they are coming from, as I feel this is the best way to approach differing opinions. If you do not understand their mind set, then you can never fully comprehend why they think the way they do. I believe that this is the best way to communicate with people and be respectful to all opinions.

I chose to run for this position because I enjoy the law-making process. I believe, as boring as it can be sometimes, that the democratic process is the best way to get changes to happen. It is also very interesting to me as this is the way the world operates and makes changes in the 21st century. I wish to fulfill this position to the best of my ability and to be the change I want to see.

I have been both mentee and mentor while on campus. I was involved in the EXCEL/COMPASS program that allowed me to connect with upperclassmen and be mentored by them. This guidance early on in my college career was crucial to me sticking on the path I am now. I want to give back this guidance and mentorship to the rest of the student body and make sure that everyone finds their own path.
I have also been deeply involved with eli2 and have the position of Project Manager of Community within the student team. This position has allowed me to expand upon my leadership and networking skills as my primary job in this position has been to make sure that the sense of community within our organization is strong. I’ve facilitated events, tours, social gatherings, and more to give students within the organization the chance to step out of their comfort zone and connect with others. How this position would affect my leadership style while in office is that I have many lessons and skills that I can bring to the Student Government that already match with many of the values of what the SG aims to do: help every student succeed. Strong support networks are crucial to this goal, and this is what I have been tasked with building within eli2 and what I can help expand further in Student Government.

I am running for this position because I believe that representation and doing things right matter. I have a great many friends and peers within the College of Engineering and Computer Science, and I feel confident in saying that I have the skills and the will necessary to help them with whatever they need. There have been so many that have helped me succeed not just in my academic career, but also in my personal life; I want to give back to all those that have put their hand in mine and hauled me along through my lowest points. I am still here in part thanks to all of them, still kicking and breathing and hoping for better things, and I am dedicated to seeing this through to the end. I am unafraid to do the hard work and be that shoulder for others to lean on when the going gets tough.

A quality that I have that I believe will help me in my senate career is my ability to work through adversity. My first semester of college was a difficult time for me academically and emotionally, as many others can relate to. I remember failing calculus 1 and chemistry and feeling like I could never come back from it, however, the next semester I came back, used what I learned my first semester, and passed all of my classes. I adapted to the new environment and learned how to succeed and I know I’ll be able to do the same as a senator.

I chose to run for senate because I want there to be a diverse amount of representation for the engineering and computer science college. I believe that if I want to truly be represented in the senate then I should be a part of it. I also know that students from my college rarely run for these positions and I want to change that. The engineering and computer science college is one of, if not, the biggest college at UCF yet it rarely has any participation in the UCF government. I want to improve that as best I can in the time that I am a senator.This Senate seat can be used to help the student body because Senators are used to help organize funds, campus-wide events and much more. A Senate seat is very influential and can dictate what will happen in campus that year. Also, having a diverse Senate will bring differing views to the table and make sure that not only one idea is being presented.

Having great abilities is a strong asset when running for a senator position. My abilities include strong leadership skills, excellent communication and interpersonal skills, the ability to work collaboratively with others, and a proven track record of taking initiative and making positive changes. I have worked as the president of my high school’s Mu Alpha Theta chapter and have worked in a team environment with my TSA chapter which immensely grew my collaboration skills. Additionally, I have a clear vision of what I want to accomplish as a senator, as well as the passion and drive to see it through.

If I have the opportunity to serve as a senator I will use it to impact the lives of students on the campus. I will work to represent the interests of the student body and address their needs. I will bring meaningful change that the campus actually wants and will prioritize the needs of the majority rather than the wants of the minority. Thus, I promise to become an active and engaged senator that will play a role in making the campus a better place.

I am the person for this position for two critical reasons. Those two reasons are; because of who I am and because of what I want to do for the students at The University of Central Florida. Who am I? I am Damien Moore a freshman at UCF for Civil Engineering and to every person reading this I understand you. I understand you because I stay up late to finish those way too long assignments, I love watching our ranking climb throughout the football season, I drive forty minutes to get to campus and have to struggle to find parking, I am in the library studying right up until it’s time to take the test, and I am UCF. I know the experience of the everyday student and I will listen to the everyday student. What am I going to do for the students at this amazing college? I am going to represent you with pure passion. I have always been interested in being a voice for the people and I loved being a part of the student government of my high school. However, representing the massive student population of the largest college in the country is a much bigger responsibility. That responsibility excites me. I want to learn everything I can, I want to meet all the bright minds on this campus, and I want to be the best representative I can be. Ultimately, I am qualified because I understand and because I care.

I chose to run for this position because I love being a voice for people. I want to meet everyone on the campus and I want to have a conversation with you. I will be the person you can trust, the person who will listen to you, the person who will understand you, and the person who will fight for you. This position does not mean a lot to me because of its title but because of the responsibility that comes with it.

I have been a part of the UCF Junior Varsity programming team since Fall 2022. Through this involvement, I have gained close connections with my fellow students in the college of engineering and computer science. My leadership style would be casual as a result, as I want my peers to feel that they can come to me about issues and more.

There are various issues that I and my fellow students feel need to be addressed at UCF. I want to play an active role in solving these problems, and I feel that the SGA senator position would allow me to do so.

The number one way I want to use this position to help the student body is to move to allocate more funding toward public transportation initiatives, such as drastically improving the current grocery shuttle system. I believe that revamping the current grocery shuttle system by increasing the amount of days it runs to two or three times per week and changing its route to go to both Publix and the Walmart Neighborhood Market across the street will significantly benefit the many students who rely upon the shuttle for food. I would also like to eventually introduce a second grocery shuttle that travels to the various student-dominated off-campus housing complexes. It is unrealistic and outdated thinking to expect UCF students to have cars or rely on the subpar LYNX buses provided by the city of Orlando to simply get groceries each week. My goal would be to use this position to fight for transportation changes that can help the student body that is often forgotten: those without a car. I also have goals for funding future improvements in bicycle infrastructure, as at the moment, bicycle users are forced to awkwardly maneuver between scared pedestrians and speedy scooters, or risk death on the abysmal, dangerous bike lanes offered on the roads. Changing the way student government prioritizes urban planning is something that I think will drastically help a great portion of the student body, and I believe that being a part of the Senate and fighting for urban planning initiatives will be the first necessary step.

I chose to run for this position because as a student without a car, I rely on services like the weekly grocery shuttle and the bike racks across campus to go about my weeks. I have often been vocally critical of things I would like to see improved in regards to the public transportation and transportation infrastructure offered on campus. Safety for myself and my fellow students who commute by foot or bicycle is my top priority, and I believe that that safety should be a given.

I believe I qualify for this position because I’ve always been good at finding how I can help people and advocate well for people. I spent the last semester or so in student government and learning more about senate. During this time, I consistently learned new things and gained knowledge through mentorship and attending the senate meetings along with committee meetings. What sets me apart from other candidates is my desire and ability to combine leadership and people skills. I value building long-lasting relationships with the student body and advocate, to the best of my abilities to ensure a successful future for everyone in CHPS.

I decided to run for a seat on senate in CHPS to help the student body in various ways. One personality trait I have that I think will help is my ability to talk to anyone. I am very outgoing and I am an active listener. I want to help make UCF a better place along with my college.

A student senator is an advocate first and foremost – a senator is in SG to advocate for the interests of their constituents and for the UCF community as a whole. I am committed to ensuring that every voice is represented in my decisions as a senator, no one deserves to be unheard because of their identity – and that is why I am committed to defending and improving social justice initiatives on campus. I seek a campus environment where hate has no home, where people are loved and supported for their identities, and where people feel that they have had a positive experience during their time at UCF. Senators can help achieve this by promoting policies that encourage a culture of diversity and inclusion, and those that discourage the spread of hate speech. It is the responsibility of senators, through legislation and the Senate caucuses, to represent and advocate for the many diverse communities we have at UCF, whether black, Latino/Hispanic, Asian, LGBTQ+, people with disabilities, immigrants, or others. I also believe that students and RSOs promptly should get money that they request and are approved for – this is the backbone for extracurricular activity and life across this campus. That is why I have helped work on and will continue to work on measures to streamline that process and make it easier for students and RSOs to navigate.

I chose to run for the position of Student Body Senator because I feel that we need a fundamental change in how SG’s Senate operates. This is an effort I have worked for and intend to continue working for. I believe in the checks and balances that all three branches of SG have, and do believe that Senate should exercise them when necessary and proper. There will be time when decisions are made, whether in Student Government or outside it, that do not represent student interests. It is the job and the duty of Senators to provide a check on those decisions by being a direct bulwark of student advocacy and as regulators of the functioning of SG. I am also running for senator to provide a voice for those who struggle to find a voice and to represent them when devising new initiatives for the improvement of UCF. It is necessary to assist homeless students, veteran students, LGBT students, poor students, and other students facing struggles in their daily lives. It is my hope that SG can use its powers to make their lives and campus life as a whole better and safer than it currently is – and leave students feeling that they have had a good time while they were here at UCF. It is the idea that we left the campus better off than we found it, that we had a positive impact on many students who need resources to support their activities, whether research, advocacy, cultural events, competitions, sporting events, etc. Lastly, I want an SG culture of accountability where senators are held accountable to high standards of professional conduct and are accountable to their constituents more than they are now. Senators are not just student leaders, but also servants of students, and the student body is the boss of the Senate.

I am qualified for this position because I have background officer experience on and off campus. Before I was accepted to UCF, I was both a martial arts coach and a member of NHS so I have past leadership experience under my belt. During my time at UCF, I have prior officer position experience as Vice President and President for a couple of organizations here, like VP for CREOL’s ISO program and President of Global Engineering Brigade. Overall, I have leadership and officer experience that I believe qualifies me for this opportunity.

I believe this position helps run the student body because it allows the voices of the undergraduates, graduates, and staff at CREOL to be heard.

Besides my involvement with Student Government, I have taken the initiative to involve myself with various other areas of campus. I did this to develop myself and to ensure I understood our University’s processes and the impact of Student Government on every area at UCF – and also to find ways to help the neglected areas. As a Senator in the 54th Session, I made sure to use my voice and connections to their fullest extent.
When it comes to my involvement, I am a Burnett Honors Scholar within the Burnett Honors College. With that, I have been involved with the Dean’s Leadership Council (DLC) in which I have worked with the Honors College Deans to host events, showcase the college, and collect student input. With this, I have become more aware of issues Honors students in various majors face, and understand more about the Honors College as a whole. One of the things I did as a Senator that I was able to bring DLC into was getting Rosen’s first-ever Honors course. In the 2024-25 school year, there should be an Honors Interdisciplinary Seminar with some kind of correlation to Rosen’s wine classes – details still pending. Without my connection to both the Rosen and Honors Deans through Senate and DLC, this may have never happened.
Another piece of involvement is with general Rosen RSOs. I made sure to keep in contact with RSOs I represented in Senate, and also helped many of them get funding to travel or host events. Some of the most notable RSO’s trips I assisted include FTPLA’s trip to Disneyland in California, and Casino Resort Club’s trip to Las Vegas, Nevada! In addition to this, at Rosen, I was an Undergraduate Admissions Ambassador, and that allowed me to identify issues at Rosen such as food options, general accessibility of campus and classrooms, shuttle schedules, and more. As a Senator, I was able to combine my experiences with Undergraduate Admissions to have those discussions and bring concerns so many students have at Rosen to Dean Wang.
As an Event Management major at Rosen, I have also worked my way into event roles on campus, and currently serve as the Programming Director for Late Knights, where I have learned a lot about events and event processes, but also more about SG-funded entities as a member of both Senate and an SG Agency (Late Knights). This has helped me when serving on committees like SG’s Finance Office and A&SF Budget Committee, where I believe I can provide a lot of insight into the committee member’s decisions. With this, I can hopefully have a say in the decisions being made that students actually want going forward (like funding important services that have recently been cut), into the next Senate session. For some other pieces of my involvement, I am involved with the LEAD Scholars Program and have served in leadership positions in various RSOs.
Overall, I feel I have an understanding of our campus due to my involvement, and I will use that to continue to find solutions to issues and inform the Student Body. As a Senator for the 55th Student Body Senate (if elected) I will continue to advocate for any student who needs me, and especially for the students here at Rosen College of Hospitality Management.

I believe I qualify for this position because of my involvement with Rosen, in Senate currently, and what I’ve been able to accomplish so far this year. If you read the above, you will see the impact I’ve made with things Rosen students care about and things that general students have concerns with. But in addition to that, I have been very involved during my time as a Senator. To explain my efforts in Senate, I have been Conference, Registration, and Travel (CRT) Committee Chair, Operations Review and Sanctions (ORS) Chair, Disability Caucus Vice Chair, Finance Office Vice Chair, and Activity and Service Fee (A&SF) Budget Committee Vice Chair.
I won’t go into absolutely everything I’ve done but for some highlights. During my time as CRT Chair, I was able to help fund over 750 students and RSOs to attend conferences, compete in competitions, present research, conduct service trips and observational research, and more! During my time as Disability Caucus Vice Chair, I worked with the committee to get wheelchair charging stations in the Student Union. As a member of general Fiscal Leadership (ORS Chair, CRT Chair, Finance Office Vice Chair, A&SF Budget Committee Vice Chair) I was able to meet with UCF’s CFO Gerald Hector to work on improving transparency in A&SF’s Budget and UCF’s Budget generally going forward. In addition, just acting as a Senator, I have introduced at least 9 of the 42 Fiscal Bills, all 3 of the Constitutional Amendments, 12 of the 32 Internal Bills, and 3 of the 36 Resolutions seen this session by the 54th Student Body Senate. This means that as a singular Senator, I have been responsible for nearly 24% of all legislation seen by the body – more than any other Senator.
With my extensive knowledge on the Student Body Constitution and the Student Body Statutes, I can find ways to make sure I represent Rosen well and fix issues not only at Rosen, but also within Student Government and our processes.

From a young age, I have identified as a headstrong leader with a perspicacity for project management and execution. Though I have always had an innate passion to serve, my leadership journey began when I was apart of the Boy Scouts of America, where I rose through the ranks and attained the rank of Eagle Scout. To accomplish this, I had to partake in completing an intensive project for a beneficiary. In my case, I led a team to build a park kiosk for the Rock Springs Run State Reserve to commemorate what was once the historic town of Ethel, a small rural community with a citrus based economy. Through this endeavor, I was required to demonstrate interpersonal communication skills, fundraising skills, discipline, and resourcefulness; all of which are essential skills in order to successfully serve the student body.
Inspired by my previous ventures, my freshman year at UCF I was inspired to apply, and was accepted to the Student Government Leadership Council, or SGLC, which is designed for first year, second year, and transfer students to be accustomed to structure and operations of Student Government. Throughout the year, I was able to shadow various SG officers as well as participate in a capstone project involving creating an event for the Executive Branch. Considering it was an election year and to encourage political participation across campus, both myself and current Senator Ethan Temple created the idea for Politics Across the Board, which would allow for political registered student organizations to meet with students while also being offered food and the opportunity to play chess. I am looking forward to hopefully implementing what I learned from SGLC into the Senate and am excited to create more ideas that will benefit the student body!

Although part of the reason why I want to run for SG Senate was due to my involvement in SGLC, I mainly want to restore the confidence students have for SG as well as make it my goal to be the most open SG senator in the body. With cuts in state funding, many students are concerned about which services are going to be slashed. To prevent any misinformation from going around, I am advocating for an expansion of SG’s social media presence to include a Reddit account. A large portion of news is spread through this platform and to prevent any panic due to false claims, I believe it is time we have a presence to monitor news that is posted and to clarify on what is true and what is not. In addition, I believe it is time that senators are required to have at least one hour of Zoom office hours per week. This would allow for any RSOs or students to discuss their needs with the Senators before meetings, and discuss any possible legislation that may be going through the Senate. I will also be giving my phone number out via my campaign page so students have a direct line to me for any inquires or complaints.
Within the College of Medicine, I believe that many students are also confused on how to commit to research opportunities, as well as TA opportunities both inside and outside the College of Medicine. To make it easier for our students, I believe we should have a research night and a TA night to make their opportunities known. Currently, the undergraduate research website has been known to be difficult to navigate, and I also believe it would be beneficial for students to meet research professors as well as research assistants to get a better gauge on how the students feel about interacting with their possible future colleagues, as well as learn about other logistics such as location, time commitment, and lab positions that are available. For the research event, programs such as Honors Undergraduate Thesis or PILOT may want to send representatives as many students are curious about these two programs. A similar methodology can be used for the TA night, where either professors or representatives (current TAs) can be sent to establish relations with prospective students as well provide the criteria to apply. It is possible a representative from SARC may be at this event, as many biomedical sciences classes have the necessary rigor for them to be labeled as those needing supplemental instructors or tutors.
I would like to add on that my initiatives are not limited to this list, and I will always be adding on and creating new ideas that I feel would benefit the student body. For now, though, I believe that it would be best if we take the opportunities that we have currently and make them more accessible to our students. If you have any ideas or questions, please contact me and I would be happy to work something out!

I believe that for the success of any academic institution and its representative student body, an honorable and transparent relationship between both entities is critical. Efforts to prioritize the communication of student concerns, questions, and general information are not nearly as effective if the delegated agents are not facilitating fluid conversations. Those efforts begin with the delegation of a comfortable support system of students who are willing to listen and voice the concerns of the representative body. At times it can be difficult for students to directly inform higher officials of areas the university may be lacking in. Bridging that gap requires student leaders. These student leaders understand the concern of the peers from a student perspective, resonate with those mutual feelings, and pose a solution to the assigned governing body – in an almost objective manner. These student leaders give the representative body reassurance that their voices are being heard and change is being implemented. Finally, these student leaders facilitate an agreeable environment limiting agency-principal problems. The Government Senate is responsible for several tasks that all fall under the umbrella of creating student leaders willing to bridge the gap between students and administrators.

I have always been a strong proponent for student advocacy. As I have listened to my colleague’s opinions on certain issues regarding the College of Medicine, I have several ideas I think could be implemented. I additionally want to team up with the College of Medicine to create more research opportunities. UCF has a plethora of resources and alumni connections that I think are yet to be tapped into. By working closely with the deans and fellow senators, I would also love to create more networking opportunities for the College of Medicine. This is great for facilitating interaction between students and alumni, as well as with the greater Orlando area.

My ability to get along and work with others well (a), organization skills (b), experience in working in a school atmosphere (c), and desire to help others succeed are qualities that make me the best fit for this position (d).
a. I plan on using the teamwork skills I learned from cheerleading throughout my involvement in student government because being part of a team has showed me how working together for one cause is important for the outcome of any given situation. Without teamwork, tasks will not be completed efficiently.
b. I am meticulous when it comes to all aspects of my life, which are my education, career, and personal activities. Keeping everything organized eliminates the room for error. I believe it is important to always double check work before fully completing it. I plan on using these skills with everything I do for student government in order to help complete any given task and make sure it is completed efficiently.
c. My experience with working in a school atmosphere will help me with my involvement in student government because I am familiar with asking the student body where they want to see change. I am prepared to reach out to other students in order to make sure they are getting the most out of their experience at UCF.
d. I value helping others enhance their education and knowledge for the future. I think it is important to ensure that all students have what they need to succeed. I plan on letting the student body know of all the resources that are available to them and finding out what resources they would like to see on campus.

I chose to run for this position because I am eager to be involved at UCF. When I first visited UCF, I knew I wanted to make a difference. I remember learning about the opportunities student government had for students, for both those who are a part of the organization and in the student body. With that being said, I knew that with my abilities, I could help add to the program. With UCF having such a large student body, I am excited to be able to make a large impact in the decision making and well-being of the university and students.

It is important to do and talk about your passions, no matter what they are. And mine is advocacy and creating space for my peers. I want to be a part of change and my community on a deeper level. My peers are important to me because we share the same status as students, and I will always find the time to help.I never thought Student Government would be for me because I thought only extroverted people would fit the role, but I learned that is not the case. I like my alone time and love connecting with people, meaning I do not need to be one or the other, which I think reflects the different personalities of students on campus. I went to a workshop on organizing where I learned what power is, how to connect with people and find allies, and what it means to organize. And given the current climate we are in, the fact that students and their lives are being especially affected right now inspired me to run for the Student Body Senate under the College of Sciences. Power is within the student body and it should remain that way.
I am a student of multiple identities and facets. I believe the work starts with us students. As I have said in my previous answers, I care about others, especially my peers, and want to help in any way I can. Being part of a student-led organization that is meant to support and advocate for students is something I am passionate about, especially with my background in student journalism. Additionally, being involved in politics, even on a local level, within the student body is something I greatly enjoy and will love being a part of. I can be nerdy when it comes to politics, policy, and advocacy because I love learning about new things and how things work.

I am involved in two student organizations on campus: the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and the Pride Student Association (PSA). These organizations have students of many backgrounds, whether they are queer, a person of color, or come from a working-class family. YDSA has shown me it is important to be heavily involved in the community and to have many avenues of advocacy, which include donating time. It also means focusing on the people who make the campus function, and in this case, it is the students at UCF who keep the university going. And PSA has led me on the path of understanding socialization with students who share similar identities to you is important along with including those who are often left out of conversations.
We as students always need care because academics are not our only identity, even if it seems like it. I genuinely care about people, and this will be reflected in my time in office and the type of leader I would be. Furthermore, caring about people includes standing up for them and giving them space to be heard, which is vital. Student affairs should be heavily involved and in the hands of students. And I have learned being part of leadership is sometimes sitting back and listening to everyone around you.
In office, it would allow me to not just consider one group of students and that everyone is heard. For instance, I would not favor only those in my immediate circle. In terms of leadership, it would direct me to constantly work on improving myself, and that kind of leadership is not top-down or autocratic. This means working to always consider other perspectives, especially those with different abilities. Leadership involves learning from everyone and getting out of the comfort zones I have with the social groups I belong to. Also, it involves having fun and making sure that you have space to take care of yourself.

I think I qualify for this position for a variety of reasons. The primary reason that I believe that I qualify, is that I truly care about the perseverance and advocacy of the student body here at UCF. We need more people that care and are willing to put the time and labor into bettering UCF for everyone. I’m one of those people. I also believe that I’m qualified due to my current experience as a senator. Though I’ve only been a senator since December, I’ve learned so much about the position and SG as a whole, and I’m excited for the change I can enact in the future.

Every senator is elected by the student body to represent their interests. UCF is a massive university, and it would be exceptionally hard for every student to directly represent themselves, and many students wouldn’t have the ability or desire to even do so. Ultimately, senators serve as a direct line of communication between the student body and UCF administration. This can help the student body in a variety of ways, but the overarching theme in all of these ways is that Senators are able to advocate for the changes and protections the student body wants.

Prior to attending UCF, I attended Indiana University (IU) in Bloomington. While at IU, I served in Indiana’s Student Body Congress, as a Representative. During my time as a representative, I was involved heavily with the organization. I was ranking member on the Oversight & Reform Committee, Chair of the Government & City Relations Committee, and one of the few representatives selected by our body’s Speaker to partake in a new Constitutional Reform Committee. Beyond committees alone, one of the proudest accomplishments was authoring a bill which restructured the entire Executive Branch, to be more accountable to the students and fully implement separation of powers between our governing bodies. Similarly, I was chosen as the Congress’s representative to argue in front of the IU Supreme Court, during Impeachment Trials of Executive Branch Members and the President himself. Those are some of the qualifications which I believe suit me for this office.

One of the primary things I learned, when serving in the IU Student Body Congress, is when a student government is unresponsive to its student’s needs, it is merely a social club. From my short time, as a Knight, I can certainly see how greater student gov involvement could be beneficial. For example, in the IU Student Congress, we supported our TA unions in all their strikes, we made certain all female or gender-neutral bathrooms had ample feminine products (free of charge), we passed massive funding bills for mental health (expanding access and number of appointments per semester), passed budget reform to make certain we were getting value for every student dollar being spent, and much more. However, on this campus, I believe much more can be done to aid students with their personal dealing with their mental health. I think this student government must take quick and loud actions to expand mental health care coverage. No student in need of mental health resources should be turned away because they’ve reached their appointment cap of the semester. This is what I’m most focused on, in terms of the potential for this position to improve the lives of all Knights.

I believe that I qualify for this position due to my history of advocacy. If voted in, this would be my third and last session due to it being my senior year. In the past two sessions, I have served as Black Caucus chair. In this position, I advocated for the Black, Hispanic/Latinx, LGTBQ+, and Disability community through many collaborations. Black caucus has held funding information sessions, advocated and obtained black hair products on campus, held a black owned-small business showcase, and much more. I believe that I’d be a vital addition to the 55th session of the UCF Student Government Legislative Branch.

In my time as a senator, I’ve used my position to write and sponsor legislation that creates calls to action for higher administration and held events as a supplement. I believe that as a representative of the students in my college, it is vital that I continue this work in the 55th session to continue to meet the needs of students here at UCF.

With the career path that I am following, I have an understanding of the legislative process being one of compromise and hard decisions. With that, I am able to comprehend the responsibility of student government as more than just a group of students making life hard for the rest of the university, but a collective of people that want to help their fellow students achieve their goals. I am an individual that wants to work for the best interests of the university and of my college, so that my fellow students are able to gain the knowledge and experiences that will help them in their career goals.

In working in groups like the Girl Scouts, as well as part of the theater department in my high school and a member of a management team in retail, I know the importance of not only working with people to find solutions, but knowing that my solution my not be the right one for every issue. I am able to listen to a variety of possible solutions, and come to a compromise or even merge different ideas to come up with the best solution to different problems.

With my involvement with the Lake Claire area council I learned critical leadership skills, such as budget management and planning. This has showed me how to take advice from the student body and listening to their ideas to help to plan more engaging events. I also have experience working for the Recreation and Wellness Center. This has given me the input from all the staff there and the other people that I work with. This has shown me where we need more funding and where some of the funding can be moved. This experience will allow me to be not just a strong leader but also an advocator and listener. This will allow me to give more input from the student body and solve the problems they are facing.

When I heard that there was going to be budget cuts to the Recreation and Wellness Center, I knew that something had to be done. As an employee of the RWC I wondered how many representatives we have in student government, I was disappointed to find out that there are none. With this information I wanted to be a part of the solution, the most direct path I saw to this was running for a senate seat. The gym, the park, and the pools are important resources to the students to stay healthy and have a safe and fun place to spend time with friends. With this budget cut I knew we would be losing resources. One of these main things we may be losing is the leisure pool, which I know is a popular spot for students to spend time. When I heard that I realized how big of an impact this cut has, not just to the places we spend time but a threat to the jobs that these places provide. I have decided to run to be able to solve this issue and many others that students in today’s college world are facing.

Since English is my second language, I’ve learned that communicating effectively with other team members decreases the potential for misunderstandings or conflict. I believe that communication boosts productivity in the workplace and within organizations. I’m very passionate about having clear written and verbal communication with others. Additionally, being fluent in English and Spanish allows me to communicate with more students, especially Hispanic students who struggle with English. Because of all the volunteer, leadership, and paid positions I’ve participated in, I’ve seen what successful teamwork can do for our community. Working with others has taught me dependability, flexibility, and relationship-building skills.

I chose to run for this position because I’ve always wanted to give back to the student body that has helped me build my leadership and professional skills. Because of my previous involvement at UCF, I’m always listening to any concerns students have about on-campus events/activities and ideas to serve other students. I’m always hearing about these issues and unable to do much to help my classmates, club members, and friends. I want to bring these issues to the table and start a conversation that will lead to change.

This position in the senate will allow me to represent my fellow peers and especially the College of Medicine. Typically students in the College of Medicine do not participate in advocacy or politics as much as they should. Half the extracurriculars I take part in are filled with students in the College of Medicine. So I get to meet a lot of these students and many of them are my fellow peers, so it would be ideal for me to represent the College of Medicine and it’s students. Being a student who lives on campus, I participate in a lot of on campus events that SG funds. And in my first semester as a freshman, I sometimes found myself counting on getting food from them or events funded by them. So I understand the importance of having a Student Government and what it means for the student body to rely on their presence.

Good qualities I have that would help me in this position is a consciousness. I can put myself on the same level as another person to understand their point of view and try to understand where they are coming from. I have a lot of patience and dedication, which as a senator would allow me to push forward with policies that I believe are fit right. And no matter the scale of each matter I would give my 110% in pushing for something I believe in. Other qualities I have are time management and commitment. In the best interest of the student body I can make time for meetings and councils, and deliver results or side projects in a timely manner.

One thing that I have always looked back at my time in any team setting, whether it be a team sport or a competitive environment, was my decision making when it came to tough situations and how to respond to those. I look back at times like those and am glad that I chose to not add fuel to the fire, or add more issues to intense environments when it wasn’t needed and only would’ve made the situation worse. Continuing that thought, I also feel that I am able to work well with others and keep an open mind, as everyone should feel as though they have something to offer and no one should feel belittled or quieted. I understand that through the committees and different discussions that lead to bills, teamwork is central to being a senator. In situations where not everyone will agree, it is important to hear everyone out and find common ground, which is something that I’ve always tried to do and will continue to do.

I chose to run for this position because during my time so far in Student Government, I’ve been able to see the dynamic first hand in which the legislative branch is led by. I have been able to witness the teamwork, debate, and speech skills that allow for students to be able to receive their funding in order to further their career goals. It would be a pleasure to advocate and represent my peers, and to be a part of something that is benefitting the student body as a whole. Being able to help facilitate this type of work for my fellow students at UCF would be an honor in itself, but I also know that it will help me in the future for my own future endeavors. Senate is in place for the student body, and that remains my ideology and philosophy going into this experience.

I am qualified to represent the College of Sciences in the senate, because of my vast experience in leadership positions specifically serving as a voice of the students. Currently, I am the Advocacy Chair for the Libra Community, part of the Residence Hall Association. As the Advocacy Chair I advocate for the needs of Libra residents, which has prepared me to advocate for the needs of my colleagues in the College of Sciences.

Senators must listen to everyone and represent every one of their constituents. I believe as a member of the Senate, I will represent and advocate for the needs of everyone in the College of Sciences, to ensure everyone gets the most out of their academic and social experience at the University of Central Florida.

It can be used as a vessel to make sure all students voices are equally represented. I see this position, not so much as a leadership role, but more so as one being used as a megaphone for their fellow students. When decisions are made, I believe this position should be able to ensure that directly or not, anyone who wanted to will have input.

I’m a peace maker and a problem solver. If at any point their comes a disagreement my natural instinct is not to get combative, but communicative. I know many important decisions will be made by all who are elected, and not every member is gonna agree, if that ever happens I will make sure that all sides are argued, understood and their needs dealt with to the best of our ability.

I have been a senator for all of the 54th session and was a caucus chair from September through January.

I have previously used it to get the university to urge donors to give more money to CAPS and have met with the university about improving their hurricane response strategy.

Since the moment I stepped into UCF, I’ve loved being involved on campus in a variety of different ways. My time spent as the treasurer and the 100% Renewable Energy Campaign Coordinator for Florida PIRG, a non-profit organization centered around student change, is a testament to my drive to make UCF a better campus. Practicing advocacy is something I do not only for myself, but for the people around me as well.
Through my various passions and commitments, I further engage with my surrounding communities. Working as a medical scribe has allowed me to come into contact with people from all walks of life. I’ve learned how to hear all the information in a scenario or about a person to help them come up with the best choice they can make for themself, and this is a practice I carry with me no matter what I’m doing.
My time spent as directors of different RSOs on campus and as heads of committees within them has proven to me the value in the words and thoughts of every single person that I’m working with. Positive change and actions are not feats that can be done by one person single-handedly, and I fully understand that. So, I’m able to use my skills gained through experience to effectively listen to everyone who has something to say. Moreover, I’ll be able to pave the way for students to easily obtain clinical opportunities through my connections with UCF COM.
Overall, pushing initiatives that better the quality of life of students is my main agenda. Students should feel the need to explore themselves and the opportunities that are available to them with much ease. My intention is to use my influence and position to implement projects that would be in the best interest of pre-health students. I will place the onus of responsibility on me and hold myself to a high standard throughout my time as a senator.

The most valuable quality about me is that I’m committed to whatever I’m passionate about. I’m the type of person to take advantage of any possible resource at my disposal to achieve my goal as a senator.
My passion for bettering my community and social involvement is exemplified through my position as Health Outreach Coordinator of MAPS. I’m able to connect the medical and healthcare community and the members of my club in an almost symbiotic way. This way, our members are able to learn about healthcare in general, and the future medical community gains a more inspired, motivated, and knowledgeable force of health professionals.
I chose the medical field because I want to do as much as I can to help those around me. I strive to bring this same attitude to campus. Through my leadership positions, I work hard to make a positive impact on UCF while also building stronger connections with other students. I believe a good senator needs to care about the students at UCF as well as understand them. I intend to incorporate my passion to help and connect with others into my role as a senator so that I can effectively push for change for the people.

This position will be used for the student body in expanding opportunities available for UCF students and allowing for more experiences, especially in terms of career exploration and community service. Additionally, I will work with the UCF student body to determine how we can best implement changes that will benefit their college experience and lead to their success in the future at UCF.

Qualities I possess that will help me in this position is a perfectionist attitude as well as a resilient mentality. I will not stop working for the UCF student body until their wants are satisfied and will not be stymied by failure. I will continue pushing for legislation as long as it benefits the UCF students.