红领巾瓜报

Victor Luna

• Who are you?
  • My name is Rene Luna, but I usually go by Victor. I am a junior majoring in Finance with a minor in Marketing. I am looking to take an extra year after graduation and apply for grad school to achieve a master鈥檚 in data science. With that being said, it honestly still feels like I'm starting brand new. The only clubs and programs I am currently involved in are HALO and Professional Edge. Oh and I visit SHPE occasionally, too. Although I am not a part of the engineering college, I enjoy socializing with members and their events as well. I found myself looking up to the previous president as he inspires me to grow and be a part of a community. Outside of my education, I commit to participating in activities that improve my health or I explore interests of mine. A goal I have for my time at college is to join more organizations and programs to help me discover where I belong.  If there鈥檚 one thing that I know can always define me, is daring,
• Why are you running?
  • I鈥檓 passionate about improving student representation in decision-making processes and about creating a positive impact on our campus community. I want to bridge any gap by ensuring everyone has a say in decisions that affect them. My previous work experience has equipped me with the skills to listen actively, advocate effectively, and work towards practical solutions. Working at fast-food and retail stores has honed my skills in leadership and collaboration For example, being a manager at young age taught me how to effectively address concerns and achieve positive outcomes. My goal as a student senator is to enhance the relationship between students and administration. I would aim to help make decisions on topics and issues and propose a thoughtful solution. I hope I can be a great senator and work towards meaningful change. I would enjoy being dedicated to serving my fellow students. I believe that by working together, we can create a school environment where everyone feels valued and empowered. I am excited about the opportunity to contribute to our community and make a lasting impact as a member of the student senate.
• What is your platform?
  • My platform would be centered on improving student well-being and enhancing campus resources. I am passionate about making our campus a place where every student feels supported, heard, and empowered to succeed. First, I plan to advocate for additional counseling resources and stress-relief events during peak exam periods. Mental health is a priority, and I want to ensure that students have access to the help they need. Second, I aim to improve campus facilities and resources by pushing for better study spaces, and more availability of academic support services. I believe these changes will help students feel more prepared and confident in their education pursuit. I will work to ensure all students feel welcome and respected.

Gavin Barnes

• Who are you?
  • I am Gavin Barnes, a driven student with a strong passion for finance, economics, and investment. Currently, I am an integral part of the business team for the Formula SAE at WSU, where I am gearing up to take on the role of treasurer. My responsibilities include creating a comprehensive financial dashboard from scratch and effectively managing the Formula SAE team鈥檚 expenses. These experiences have significantly sharpened my skills in financial organization and record-keeping, reinforcing the importance of meticulous financial documentation and enhancing my understanding of effective financial management.
• Why are you running?
  • My main objective is to fill the gaps left by previous business majors in Senate positions. I am determined to tackle the issue of underrepresentation among business majors with a confident and proactive approach to policy-making. I am fully committed to not only performing my role effectively but also ensuring that I serve my term with unwavering dedication and integrity. Fueled by a strong desire for meaningful change, I intend to create an environment where every student feels represented and valued within my university's community.
• What is your platform?
  • I am determined to bring business majors back into the WSU council, believing that their perspectives are crucial for driving positive change for the entire student body. With my strong financial expertise, I will ensure transparent budget management and implement efficient processes. My strategic planning and project management skills will be instrumental in developing impactful policies and initiatives to address student needs and enhance campus life. I am committed to fostering collaboration and communication with stakeholders to effectively represent and support the diverse interests of the student body.

Nami Foster

• Who are you?
  • I am a student pursuing a degree in social work with a minor in psychology. I am involved on campus through HOPE services as a prevention ambassador, working to educate my peers on physical and mental wellness. I'm also a peer mentor through the mentorship program here on campus!
• Why are you running?
  • My main passion in life is to help others, which is why I'm pursuing a career in social work. As social workers, we have a commitment to advocating for those in need and I wanted to expand that to my role here on campus. I hope to use this opportunity to help and uplift my peers in LAS.
• What is your platform?
  • I am running on a platform based on connections, wellbeing, and an self-determination. LAS is such a big college with so many diverse identities, interests, and passions. As a LAS senator, I aim to increase connection and relationships for my peers in LAS. Relationships are crucial for promoting individual wellness and success. I hope that by increasing connection within our population, it can lead me and my peers to reach our full potential here on campus. In addition, I aim to promote resources to my peers to allow them to thrive in college life and be prepared for their futures!

Diana Grajeda

• Who are you?
  • My name is Diana Grajeda. I am a Junior studying Health Management with concentrations in Public Health and Health Science along with a minor in Sociology. This is my third year in SGA. For the 65th session, I served as an At-Large senator in the Academic Affairs Committee. During the 66th session I served in the Executive Branch as the Director of Leadership & Engagement. Currently I am serving as an interim Health Professions senator and as the Academic Affairs Committee Chairperson.
• Why are you running?
  • I am running to continue my work in the Senate and within the Academic Affairs Committee. As a Health Professions senator, I will represent the needs and wants of students in the College of Health Professions.
• What is your platform?
  • My main focuses are making Innovation Campus more accessible to students, increasing course information available prior to the start of classes, and improving ADA compliance within the classroom.

Gary Tran

• Who are you?
  • Hi! My name is Gary Tran, and I鈥檓 a junior double-majoring in Aerospace Engineering and Health Science. Born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, I feel fortunate to attend 红领巾瓜报 with the support of the Rudd Scholarship. I am passionate about being involved in both the local and campus communities. Currently, I serve as president of the Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society and vice president of Engineers Without Borders. I鈥檓 also actively engaged with the Student Ambassador Society, GEEKS Tutoring, the WSU Admissions Office, on-campus research labs, and the Pre-Medical Student Association. After graduation, my goal is to attend medical school and become a pediatric oncologist!
• Why are you running?
  • I鈥檓 running for this position because I value being aware of the decisions that shape our campus and having a direct role in influencing policies that impact students. It鈥檚 important to me to ensure that Health Professions students, many of whom have demanding schedules, are represented and have their voices heard in the decision-making process.
• What is your platform?
  • My platform is built on leadership experience across various organizations, including the WSU Admissions Office, the Engineering Student Success Center, the College of Health Professions, and the Pre-Medical Student Association. Through these roles, I aim to advocate for initiatives that benefit Health Professions students and enhance their campus experience.

Jennifer Diaz-Reyes

• Who are you?
  • Hello! My name is Jennifer Diaz-Reyes, and I'm from Topeka, Kansas. I am currently a senior majoring in Health Science with minors in Spanish and Psychology. During my time on campus, I鈥檝e been actively involved in organizations like HALO (Hispanic American Leadership Organization), Phenomenal Woman, PASS, and Kappa Delta Chi Sorority, Inc.
• Why are you running?
  • In the fall of 2023, I was dismissed from the nursing program after dedicating two years to getting in. Unfortunately, due to my legal status in the U.S., I could not continue in the program. This experience was both devastating and stressful, as no one seemed to know how to guide me. I had to navigate through different administrators to find support in changing my major, withdrawing from the program, and building a new graduation plan. I strongly believe this situation could have been avoided if advisors, administrators, and program requirements had communicated the necessary requisites for enrollment. I now want to help students with similar backgrounds to ensure they don鈥檛 face the same challenges.
• What is your platform?
  • As a senator in student government, my platform is centered on advocacy, transparency, and support for underrepresented students, particularly those facing challenges related to legal status, program requirements, and navigating administrative processes. Improve Communication and Transparency: I aim to work with advisors and administrators to ensure program requirements, especially for competitive fields like nursing, are communicated to students from the outset. This would include more thorough advising sessions and accessible resources that outline all potential barriers, including legal or financial challenges.Create Support Networks for Students Facing Similar Barriers: I want to establish a dedicated support system for students from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds, including those facing immigration or legal status challenges. This could involve mentoring, workshops, and advocacy groups to help them navigate campus policies, academic planning, and professional development.Push for Policy Changes: I'll advocate for more inclusive policies within the university that address the unique challenges faced by undocumented or DACA students, such as access to certain programs, scholarships, and resources, ensuring that no student is left behind due to legal status or lack of guidance.Enhance Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources: Recognizing how stressful these situations can be, I will also push for more accessible mental health resources and workshops tailored to students facing academic or personal hardships.I hope to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students by focusing on these areas.

Katrina Henley

• Who are you?
  • My name is Katrina Henley and I am originally from Austin, TX. I鈥檓 a second year Community Psychology doctoral student and the president of the Psychology Graduate Student Organization. Outside of school, I work for the Wichita Area Sexual Assault center as a victim鈥檚 advocate.
• Why are you running?
  • I鈥檓 running for the Graduate Senator position because I want to represent the interests of graduate students. A big focus of my work in Community Psychology is policy reform, which starts locally. I鈥檓 a strong advocate for the need to start in your local community to contribute to the change you want to see on a larger scale. Therefore, being able to represent the graduate students is as local as I can get due to being a graduate student myself and how highly I respect the graduate students at WSU.
• What is your platform?
  • I plan on improving the health and well being of graduate students through improving the drinking water quality throughout the older buildings and building community for the students within the graduate programs.

Rizwan Raisulhaq 

• Who are you?
  • I am an Entrepreneur, Roboticist, Teacher, Engineer, Innovator, Student Body President (MSA), Public speaker, story writer, and a Tech enthusiast at 23. I am currently pursuing my master's degree in computing. I am also a Graduate assistant and team lead of the tech support group, Ablah Library. I am the President of an RSO, Muslim Student Association, and have coordinated with my cabinet to hold a bunch of successful events on campus so far and more coming up. I am an active member of GoCreate. But at the end of the day, I am one of you. A fellow shocker.
• Why are you running?
  • I have observed a redundant trend in many students in the University. Be it Undergrads or Graduates, the trend I am talking about is common in both. On the orientation day they come with huge goals and enthusiasm. But while they graduate, they're only left with a piece of paper in their hands (the Degree). I want to change it. I want to make them aware they their "huge goals and dreams" are achievable, and I want to make them aware that there is always another way or path left to reach the goal, but they give up just before trying that one path. I am running for the Graduate senator position to be an advocate to all the students with the similar case, to become a bridge between students and the school administration, to propose, vote and initiate policies that will see the betterment of student services, events and campus activities.
• What is your platform?
  • My Philosophy is, " Journey is beautiful, but the destination is even more beautiful - Directly proportional" my platform as an upcoming Graduate Senator is the set of goals to make that journey of every student walking through the gates of university, beautiful.

Dion Samuel

• Who are you?
  • My name is Dion Samuel, and I鈥檓 an international student from Sri Lanka, currently a junior majoring in Computer Science. I serve as the Director of Marketing for both the International Student Union and the Sri Lankan Culture Association. Additionally, I work part-time at NetApp at the Innovation Campus.
• Why are you running?
  • Running for international senator would allow me to amplify the voices of the diverse international community on campus, including student organizations and the broader student body.
• What is your platform?
  • As an international student in my third year at 红领巾瓜报, with extensive experience engaging with both domestic and international students, I understand the importance of bridging the gap between these communities. My involvement with the Sri Lankan Culture Association (SLCA) and the International Student Union (ISU) keeps me connected to my platform: advocating for international students.

Maneja Ahmed

• Who are you?
  • I am Maneja Ahmed, an undergraduate student studying Aerospace Engineering at WSU. I am an International student, coming from Dubai, UAE, I hold strong cultural values connected to where I come from, and where I'm originally from, which is Pakistan. Currently, I am the president of International Student Union at WSU, ISU is an SGA agency that helps all international students with services, facilities, and any help they would need to thrive further in a new city. I am a part of several cultural RSOs such as Asian Student Conference, and I am also the Director of Outreach for Pakistani Students Association. Furthermore, I am a Global Buddy mentor, where I engage and help international students in campus and students that are still in their countries planning to join WSU. I help these students with questions about their new lifestyles and any information they would need on Wichita and WSU.
• Why are you running?
  • While newly joining WSU as a international student in spring of 2024, I realized that there were a lot of services and opportunities that weren't brought to my attention until a few months later, which I found, by myself. Learning this, motivated me to initiate and discuss ideas to bring services, support, and opportunities directly to students, I want students to be given help and information instead of them having to wander and find them after months of research. Before joining WSU, in Dubai, UAE, I had actively been part of Model United Nations, I have been a chairman for General Assembly 2, and have delegated for several countries such as Denmark, Saudi Arabia, Kazakhstan, India, Canada etc. Some of these delegations were international, while some were national. My experience in debate and speaking has further motivated me to work for real-life situations and come up with good resolutions with a team that seeks for the betterment of the community. I want to help international students reach their highest potential, thriving in a new city isn't easy, which is why I want to help them as much as I can. Being president of ISU, helped me get a lot of feedback on areas where we might be lacking on, as service providers for new students, and I want to work on these aspects, and bring attention to them by speaking to higher officials and come up with good resolutions.
• What is your platform?
  • Coming to a complete different city and country is not an easy task, I realize the issues each students may face in their starting months in a new place, and I want to not just make it easy for them, but I also want them to be provided with more opportunities than they may be looking for, so that they can thrive greatly in a different atmosphere like here. As an international senator, I am focused on coming up with  resolutions to critical  global problems through collaborating with other higher officials. I am committed to the advancement of security around campus for the safety and health of new students. Human rights are so important to me; I want to extend protections to the marginalized communities, work against human trafficking, and fight for equality. Economic development will be promoted through the use of fair trade, support of international aid, and encouragement of sustainable growth and development. I further believe in global education and technology, effective international governance, and reform of global institutions. I stand for peace and security through diplomatic solutions and international cooperation; the promotion of cultural exchange with the purpose of achieving mutual understanding and dialogue among nations.