SGA Elections Underway: Vote Today!
Students can vote today and Tuesday for Student Government Association (SGA) officers on the Winter Haven Campus. The election for Lakeland Campus SGA officers will take place April 3 and 4.
SGA provides Polk State College students with an active role in administrative and legislative matters concerning the student body, and serves as the liaison between students and administrators. SGA organizes campus activities, represents students in state and national organizations, and provides advocacy on legislative issues.
Officers are elected during the spring semesters and serve one-year terms.
Here’s when and where to vote for 2018-2019 officers:
Winter Haven Campus
Monday, March 19 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | WST 126
Tuesday, March 20 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | WMS 102
Lakeland Campus
Tuesday, April 3 | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Student Center
Wednesday, April 4 |11 a.m. – 2 p.m., 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. | Student Center
Polk State News contacted each candidate by email to provide information about their campaign.
Winter Haven Campus
Kieran Sequin, who is working on an Associate in Arts degree and plans to study Criminology, is running unopposed for President.
Robert Keratt, who is working on an Associate in Arts degree and plans to study Sports Management, is running unopposed for Vice President.
Whetchina Jean and Yarimar Rios are running for Secretary of Fiscal & Legislative Issues.
Rios is a junior at Polk State Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School, working on an Associate in Arts degree and a high school diploma.
“Ever since my freshmen year, I’ve had the opportunity to be in student-led organizations, where I mentored people, hosted events, and worked alongside my community leaders,” Rios told Polk State News. “I realized that it is so important for people who hold leadership positions to be open, trustworthy, organized, and above all, communicative, because they are the people who relate all the ideas and concerns mentioned back to the council.”
“It is crucial for communication to take place and as secretary I want to be that person for the students at Polk State,” Rios added. “I want to help people feel comfortable when sharing concerns or ideas because everyone’s voice should be heard.”
Aliah Patten and Isabella Diaz are running for Student Engagement Specialist.
Patten is working on an Associate in Arts degree and plans to study Criminal Justice.
“I want my fellow classmates to be able to interact with others such as: clubs, group meets, and making new friends around the school and being comfortable enough to talk to their professors and advisors,” Patten said. “I want them to know their opinions matter because one voice can make a change. I want their time in college to be worth remembering from having good times and not just the stress that comes along with college.”
Diaz is working on an Associate in Arts degree.
“I want to encourage more students to become involved in our amazing clubs on campus, influence students to come together and help run events as teams, and reach out to students and connect with them,” Diaz said. “I want to show students the benefits of involvement in campus life and motivate them to become a part of the action.”
Lakeland Campus
Kylie Azzara, who is working on an Associate in Arts degree, is running unopposed for President.
Ciera Baldwin, who is working on a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management with a concentration in Business Administration, is running unopposed for Vice President.
Azzara and Baldwin are running as a ticket, with tagline, “A New Polk.”
Shari-Jo Khanni, who is working on a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management with a concentration in Business Administration, is running unopposed for Secretary of Fiscal and Legislative Issues.
“SGA is centered on benefiting the student body and I would like nothing more than to be a part of the team that does this,” Khanni said. “Through my involvement with SGA, I gained valuable leadership skills that will also benefit me in the future. I think I am ideal for this position because I am a well-organized and responsible person who likes to keep things in order. I work well with others, therefore I will work well along-side the other members of the SGA team to ensure a full, organized school year for all students.”
Aubrey “Grant” Fletcher, who is working on a Bachelor of Applied Science in Supervision and Management with a concentration in Public Administration, is running unopposed for Student Engagement Specialist.
“Being appointed to the position of Student Engagement Specialist in 2017 was an honor. Now, with one successful year under my belt and having obtained a full years’ worth of familiarity with the position, and its duties, I’ve decided to campaign in the first election season of the official new position,” Fletcher said.
Fletcher has coordinated campus events including Welcome Week, Suds ‘n’ Glow, Polk Provides: Breast Cancer Awareness, Breaking the Glass Ceiling: A Black History Month Special, SGA’s Relay For Life Kickoff, and Halloween Horror Nights Ride and Fright.
“Keeping in mind the start of my history as our campuses’ Student Engagement Specialist, I hope you, the student body, will vote for me to come back this upcoming year,” he said. “In doing so, you would honor me as the first to be voted into the position by the student body. I look forward to seeing everyone who is coming out to vote. Here’s to another school year of entertainment.”