David Mesta - Vice President
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Preparing for Spring GA and attending the conference which went well and also chaired and met with the election committee to have a smooth process for GA and validate the candidates running. held a PC meeting to help talk about the legislative updates and expectations for Spring GA since this will be most people first in person conference at LeadMN. traveled to Southeast Winona campus to award the hunger free campus designation and tabled at Normandale. met with the chancellor office to discuss some of things they wanted to bring like changing the MNTC curriculum which I’ll be involved in the committee. we held a rally at the capitol to push for free college. attended an academic affairs council and finalized the changes to the council.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
Seeing how the spring GA went a lot of my outreach towards campuses by traveling to over 20 campuses and talking with students about running for cabinet, GC, and PC and have an active roster for student leaders.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest achievement is recruiting students to get involved and most positions were filled at spring GA. having a strong spring GA and going to rally to support free college.
Ali Tomashek - Public Relations Coordinator
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have taken meeting minutes for every Cabinet, PC, and GC meeting. I participated in Board of Trustee Candidate interviews for LeadMN's recommendation to Governor Tim Walz. I nominated and gave LeadMN Awards to the Instructor of the Year Dr. Joel Jensen and President of the Year Rolando Garcia, both from North Hennepin Community College. I brainstormed advocacy strategies with our e-advocacy team at LeadMN. I helped collect stories to publish on the website, from some of my closest friends. I prepared speeches for the April General Assembly and Scholarship Gala. Created the Gala decorations and participated in organizing the Silent Auction - which was quite a success! I unfortunately was sick and had to miss the event, but I was still gratefully elected President :) Highlight of my year working with LeadMN and I can't wait to continue our student advocacy work.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I campaigned and ran for another Cabinet position - as President! :) I've recruited students to come to the Spring GA, encouraged senates to finish Star Campus criteria, gathered letters from students to send to legislators, signed petitions for free college, and nominated many people for the Annual LeadMN Awards. I look forward to the next month as Public Relations Coordinator. Finishing up the term chairing the Scholarship Board once more, reviewing spring scholarships, gathering student feedback, continuing to advocate for free college, preparing for the incoming cabinet transition, planning summer events (like volunteering at Target Field) and reflection upon the past year on cabinet. I plan to stay in touch with students as much as possible, reach out to newly elected leaders, plan summer and fall events, and keep up the motivation for the incoming election this fall.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest achievement this month wasn't winning President in the election, it was putting together an event to celebrate the achievement of student leaders that have blossomed this year. Student of the Year, Committee Member of the Year, Student Senate of the Year, and more. I was so proud to get to sign so many awards to give out to students and acknowledge the work they put in this year, as well as celebrate the scholarship award winners for their amazing essays. It's quite fulfilling to see students succeed to the best of their potential, and they are still eager to keep learning and growing, it inspires me everyday. I'm blessed to represent students, with a fantastic team of LeadMN staff, and I'm grateful to make a difference in students lives every day.
Marcelus Ifonlaja - Treasurer
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Wheeew ! It has been a month. Spring General Assembly is over. I presented our status quo budget to the assembly. (Finally caught some heat). Target Field volunteering is moving forward and I have to thank my peers and the staff for volunteering your time and support recruiting for that. We’re still looking for folks and probably will be throughout the season. Fiscal committee met and folks' stipends for April are currently on the way as well as any reimbursements submitted to me. Finally ,we're looking at dad & trucker cap designs for the LeadMN store. We’re looking at transition materials to onboard my successor and allow Caledon to get off to a good start.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
First off congrats to all the incoming student leaders ! Next year seems to be in good hands. I have been trying relentlessly to build a solid team for volunteering at target field. Also just making myself available at events to answer questions and connect leaders with opportunities.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
Getting through the budget presentation and some of the flack that came with it.
Logan Rempert - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I advised Jonathon Pearson on what to focus on during HCC's student life budget consultation. The students were successful in reducing athletic's allotment of student life funds, and were able to disperse more funding to clubs that had previously been given miniscule funding in prior years.
I spoke with Ethan Browning about how his senate is doing, mentioned that they should include a question within their senate elections gauging support via a student vote of whether or not to implement an athletics fee. I had previously spoke with Jonathon Pearson about this, and I believe it will be included in the elections soon!
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have talked with students about the things LeadMN offers, and suggested they apply for the scholarships offered. I also mentioned how you all offer internships, fellowships, as well as Governing Council/Platform Committee positions up for grabs. I hope to locate students from the GSA/New Student Senate at HCC this summer with Jonathon Pearson from the Upward Bound summer program in order to fill the positions at LeadMN.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
The MN North College Merger is coming closer, we recently found out that email addresses are changing. HCC's Graduation is next week, and I am sad to see that a handful of nursing students have withdrawn from the program due to the lack of proper instruction leading to multiple non-passing grades for students. The registrar, both financial aid directors, and sociology teachers are all leaving us once the merger is complete. I am concerned about how Hibbing CC / MN North Hibbing will efficiently operate with such few essential support staff. Recently found out that Hibbing / Itasca have not solidified who their senate advisors will be next year as well. Apart from that, finals week is approaching and the sun is shining!
Julia Magnuson - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have communicated with my senate at Alexandria Technical and Community College. I ran the regional meeting at the Spring General assembly in April 2022 in Breezy Point. I have been in communication with out colleges president regarding changes and decisions made within ATCCs student senate.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
Our senate will be hosting a pizza party for first year students to get them involved with student senate where I will be speaking and introducing them to the Lead MN organization. I have recruited some from my senate to be involved in next years assembly’s I have communicated my own involvement with Lead MN and spoken on what we as students can do to improve our campus and state colleges. I engage students who are interested in having a voice and political interests. I do so by telling them about my trip to Minnesotas state capitol building and my conversations with MN state legislators. I am hosting this pizza party to engage students and educate them on the Lead MN agenda and how we as students have more of a voice than they know. I get students excited to engage and experience the opportunities I have had within Lead MN and I will continue to do so.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
We are working with students to get them more engaged on campus in student activities and student senate. Other campuses in my region are focusing on getting out the vote as well and finding ways to make it fun for students using incentive programs. We are all eager to get the word out about Lead MN and how our experiences and opportunities have been incredible and we wish to share those with every student we possibly can.
Caledon Johnston - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
The current progress I have made with the duties as PC have been to submit the leadership report for April 2022 and have a 1:1 meeting with the Vice-President of LeadMN. I also was able to meet for the PC Meeting this month. I also was able to submit a student story to Jocelyn Roof, which is in a drafting stage and to be posted in the coming weeks. I also was able to attend the April Student Leadership Summit.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
This month I was able to meet for the PC meeting and have a 1:1 with the Vice-President of LeadMN. I also attended the April Student Leadership Summit and learned about the importance of Voting and ways to spread information and ways to get students involved with the voting process on campuses. I also was able to attend the Spring GA, where I was elected as the Treasurer for LeadMN for the 2022-2023 academic year. I will be using my position as Treasurer to be able to get students much more involved with LeadMN, and advocate on behalf of the students of Minnesota.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
We were able to meet with RCTC during the Spring GA’s during our regional meeting and were able to nominate 3 of the students as the GC, GC Alt, and PC for the upcoming academic year. There is no opposition, but due to not having quorum at the time we were unable to make an official vote, so it’ll be brought to the GCs to vote them in.
MSCS in Winona has an end of year meal planned for tomorrow for our students. We will be advertising and spreading information about being part of student senate and voting as well during this meal. MSCS will be having their Graduation Commencement Ceremony on May 13th from 7:00pm-8:30pm, and the semester officially ends this date as well. These are currently the last remaining events for our campus.
Amona Donald - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
As PC - I attended the Spring GA at Breezy Point. I was passionate to ensure that more than Minneapolis College senate members got to experience a LeadMN conference. I ensured to reach out out to other MetroWest campuses to build connections.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
As we approach the end of semester, our senate plans to hold a tabling event with everything to look forward to for returning students. Our aim to get more students involved by coming to the next conference and being part of General Assembly to hear more about LeadMN.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Our campus just finished celebrating Earth Day and World Health Day. We are looking to do something for the student body during finals week to destress them and keep a positive atmosphere on campus.
John Runningen - Presidents' Group Chair
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I held my Presidents Group meeting at the assembly this month and have found my replacement for my position.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
During my meeting we found that teams was the more beneficial communication tool to use for relaying ideas and messages to one another to stay connected. I believe that finding a common ground on what form of communication we want to go through is going to greatly impact the success of my position with LeadMN.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
We are hosting our final events and getting ready for graduation since the school year is almost over. We planned a destress event and are hand-writing cards for our graduates.