The CCE Student Government Association (SGA) announced their candidates for 2009-10 on March 27 at “Evening on the Patio.” The pouring rain drove students and candidates into Hendricks lounge to enjoy the Drew Hayes Band and an indoor cookout. CCE Dean Rita Serotkin announced the nominees for SGA offices to the well-attended event.

Mathew Williams and incumbent president Jessica Butler are the candidates for the office of CCE SGA president. The office holds the responsibility of overseeing student activities and acts as a liaison to college administration.

Butler hopes to institute programs that will uniquely benefit CCE students.

“The most important part of being the president of SGA is holding myself accountable for the ‘college experience’ adults are looking for at Guilford,” said Butler. “The most important function of SGA is giving back. All the money students pay for their activity fee should be used for events that interest adults and allows them to involve their families.”

Williams wants to focus on connecting CCE students through community activities.

“I would like to see more meaningful and memorable events hosted by the CCE SGA – events geared towards networking and creating a sense of community would be of great benefit,” said Williams. “This would help us all realize just how important our education is and show us the many possibilities available to us.”

Both candidates agree that communication is the key to student representation.

“I tell students where they can find me. I receive e-mails, letters, and I am always listening to ideas that students have to make their college experience better,” said Butler. “We also utilize campus resources such as The Guilfordian and WQFS to let the students know that we are here.”

Williams wants to promote technology as another avenue of communication.

“I hope to make the CCE SGA more accessible and more transparent by utilizing the resources already available,” said Williams. “Places like Facebook and Twitter provide great opportunities to interact more meaningfully with the CCE population.”

Heather Brennan was named candidate for Secretary, and current Treasurer Natalie Bowks will remain in that position for another semester.

“My goal is to maintain the balance of the budget and to find new ways to save some money,” said Bowks.

Victor Vincent, a current student representative accepted his nomination as vice president. He would like to see the SGA participate in fund-raising for local charities next year.

“I believe this is where, as a government, we have dropped the ball,” said Vincent. “However, recent large turnouts, like “Evening on the Patio,” (shows) I am challenging students to get involved with SGA. If you don’t like something about the school, get involved to change it.”

Kathleen Winkler, whose background is in non-profit event planning and has been involved for 27 years with the Greensboro Jaycees and the Wyndham Championship golf tournament, will keep the office of activities director

“I have waited 26 years to be able to attend college and I want to be able to experience everything that I can about being a college student,” said Winkler. “The SGA not only brings experience to the table, but also the hard work and dedication in the making sure that all CCE students are able to enjoy the full experience of being a college student. It is nice to be apart of a team that works so hard together to accomplish the same common goal!”

There are six contenders for the five available student representative positions. Yolanda Mason, Gracie Harris and Mischa Miles are the current representatives who look forward to more student participation this year.

“I’d like to see the CCE SGA re-introduced to the CCE students of Guilford,” said Harris. “Then, together, we can become an integral part of life in the Guilford community.

Mason also discussed the lack of student involvement in their government.

“Low participation in SGA activities is discouraging, I’d like to see that change,” said Mason. “My advice to the adult students would be to get out there and vote because the CCE SGA represents them and without representation a lot of the needs and challenges just might get overlooked.”

Miles raised the idea that the SGA should provide more transparency and visibility.

“I will reach out to the population of CCE to ensure that all voices throughout the community are being heard and acknowledged,” said Miles. “There needs to be a voice that brings awareness to the adult population on campus about what SGA is and stands for, because there are many that do not know. I plan to be that voice.”

New to the ballot for student representatives are Brandon Sasnet, SGA Vice President Jennifer Agee and Steveland McSwain.

“I want to be more involved with the school,” said McSwain. “I’d like to see others immerse themselves as much as possible.”

Due to the high attendance for the CCE SGA announcements, some have high expectations for the upcoming year.

“The CCE SGA is in a state of growth reaching more and more people and getting the word out that the SGA gives back to the students,” said Agee.

The online elections would be held from April 4-6. A voting booth will also be set up in Hendricks’s Hall. The board will be introduced at the Spring Fling and Awards event on April 25.