Meet SUNY Schenectady’s Student Government Association

 

Mikayla is also in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program/The Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. She is Chair of the Student Activities Board.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
SUNY Schenectady is a starting point to test the waters, to get back into the game after my gap year. I wanted to get used to college in a format that was already known to me.

What has been your favorite class so far?
Organic Chemistry has been a large favorite of mine. Class is so much fun and Dr. Fontana is an amazing professor!

What are your goals as a student leader?
My goal is to work as hard as I can and to thoroughly enjoy my college experience. I want to demonstrate that good things come to those who work for them.

What are your goals after you graduate?
I would like to further my studies and earn my degree in Chemistry!

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
I crochet from time to time and I’m also big into gaming – both console and PC! I also work at the Subway across the bridge!

Who gives you the best advice and why?
I always get the best advice from my Father. He may be goofy (it’s where I get it from!), but he’s wise and his knowledge makes it easy to navigate through the tougher situations.

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
It’s between Queen and NSP. Oh! Guns and Roses too. I’ve too many to narrow it down!

Who do you follow on social media?
Not many people. I don’t really use social media anymore. Though if it counts there’s this one TikTok account about Goldfish – Luke’s Goldies.

Skittles or M&Ms?
M&Ms, obviously.

 

Marc is also a member of the Drama Club, Pride Alliance, and Student Volunteer Organization. “I also actively recruit employees from the culinary school for various local food service establishments.”

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
Mostly out of convenience. I was living in Albany during the pandemic and decided that now was the best time to go back to school to prepare for my future. I struck while the iron was hot!!!

What has been your favorite class so far?
Business Law by far. I am a history buff and common law makes a lot of sense to me and I like learning the various aspects of civil law and the societal framework behind it.

What are your goals as a student leader?
To organize and effectively run at least two charitable fundraisers this year.

What are your goals after you graduate?
Transferring to an Ivy League Business Administration program such as Cornell, Columbia, or Stanford.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
I volunteer to help someone with some other nonsense lol. I stay busy. I work full time when not in class and when not working I find ways to volunteer.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
Books. I find reading other people’s thoughts and ideas very informative. It allows me to eventually craft my own decisions. 

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
Comedian Dave Chappelle.

Who do you follow on social media?
On Twitter I follow the Council on Foreign Relations, Associated Press, members of my family, friends, political activists, comedians, scantily clad influencers.

Skittles or M&Ms?
M&M’s… what kind of question is this?!?  Totally fundamentally different candies who’s only semblance is in shape.

Dravid is also in the Student Veteran Organization, Phi Theta Kappa, International/English Language Learners Club, Garden Club, Student Volunteer Organization, and on the Student Activities Committee and Awards Committee.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
I chose to attend SUNY Schenectady because it is less than five minutes from my house which made it convenient for everyday traveling, and SUNY Schenectady has all the necessities I need for my first two years of college.

What has been your favorite class so far?
My favorite class was English 124 Literature and Writing with Professor Donna Corbisiero. Professor D. strategized this class to grab the attention of her students every week. There was always something to look forward to in the class and the stories we had to review from this class gave me new perceptions on reality.

What are your goals as a student leader?           
My goal is to promote new programs and activities on campus to increase the effectiveness of the SGA; to have more meaningful activities on campus that allow students to have the opportunities to get involved with the College more.

What are your goals after you graduate?
My goal after graduating from the College is to pursue my bachelor’s degree at a four-year university and reenlist in the Marine Corp as an officer.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
I love traveling and photography. Whether is it local or international, experiencing new places and cultures is always exciting. I also volunteer with the Schenectady Police Department and Feed Albany to give out meals and supplies in the city every week. I am also involved with my church youth group and the Marine’s Toys for Tots program.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
My Dad. His advice is always positive and rewarding.

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
Upperroom (Christian Music Band)

Who do you follow on social media?
Family, friends, and a few motivational influencers.

Skittles or M&Ms?
Neither, too much sugar.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
I decided to attend SUNY Schenectady because it’s the only college that offers a pilot program in the area and it was one of the colleges on the list from high school.

What has been your favorite class so far?
My favorite class so far is Basic Instruction, which prepares students to become a flight instructor.

What are your goals as a student leader?
My goal is to connect the students to many activities and clubs and to be involved.

What are your goals after you graduate?
My goal is to continue my education and get my bachelor’s degree (Professional Pilot).

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
When I’m not in school, I usually have flight training, I’m working or with my family.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
My mentor gave me the best advice and guided me to the different ways to achieve my goal.

Who do you follow on social media?
Family, friends, and aviation related accounts.

Skittles or M&Ms?
M&Ms

 

Lavare is President of the Criminal Justice Club.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
I chose SUNY Schenectady because the cost is very affordable and because of the amount of degree programs and the professor-to-student ratio. How a small educational institution had such a significant impact on the community was extremely attractive to me.   

What has been your favorite class so far?
I have had many favorite classes and professors. My math class (who would have thought I would do well in a Statistics class, but Professor Holz worked with me). I was attentive in every class, asking questions and completing every homework assignment. My final grade in his class was an A. Also, in my Western History class, Professor Carleton was deeply knowledgeable in history. That was another class I thought I would struggle with, but I did all the work and quizzes and my final grade was an A.

What are your goals as a student leader?
The goal, this being my last semester, is to encourage new students to learn the importance of doing assignments as they come. Do not wait until the last minute. Also, provide students with helpful information such as the Begley Library, TRIO, and Student Success Coaches. These are a few valuable resources that have helped me.

What are your goals after you graduate?  
My goal is to work in the Criminal Justice field and to also transfer to a four-year institution to further my education.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
I spend time with my daughter. I read books and attend church. I also take my mom places and run errands with her. Family is particularly important to me. I enjoy cooking in my free time and booking a nice trip always keeps a big smile on my face.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
My mother is full of wisdom and is my biggest supporter. When things get hard, or I may not understand a situation, she would say to pray and keep standing and would say to me, "All things are working together for your good.”

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
The Clark Sisters

Who do you follow on social media?
Family/Friends

Skittles or M&Ms?
Skittles

Jenny works at both cafes on campus. She is also part of a planning working group as a student representative with the goal of planning events relating to BIPOC and other minorities, such as Hispanic Heritage Month, Black History Month, Pride Month, etc. “We want to give these days the proper recognition they deserve while increasing student engagement with said events, and have students know that we belong despite our backgrounds.”

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
SUNY Schenectady has so many resources for its students and I continue to discover new ones! The faculty I spoke to during my enrollment were very helpful in navigating the school in-person and digitally.

What has been your favorite class so far?
General Chemistry I with Dr. Z has been my favorite class so far! They made my hardest subject more bearable and I also made a good friend in the class! I’m also biased towards the sciences.

What are your goals as a student leader?
I want to increase student engagement, bring attention to different voices, and implement change in how we celebrate our diverse student body.

What are your goals after you graduate?
My plan is to transfer to a four-year university and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. I’ll also be preparing to take on the MCAT and seriously preparing my applications for medical school.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
I love to crochet and gift my projects to the people in my life! I also have two cats, Luna and Hope, that I adore whom I adopted with my girlfriend. I often dye my hair too (it’s now blue, not pastel purple)!

Who gives you the best advice and why?
I often go to the same four people – my mom, my two best friends from South Dakota, and my girlfriend. They’re the people who know everything about me and they help me see options I would’ve never considered or even thought of. 

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
Every single song by Dominic Fike is on my playlist. I always tell people to listen to ‘King of Everything’ and to check out the episode dedicated to him on Hulu’s ‘The New York Times Presents’ (episode 2 J).

Who do you follow on social media?
Dominic Fike. Friends too, but I’m not very active on social media.

Skittles or M&Ms?
Green and purple Skittles

Varsha is interested in starting a Women’s Soccer Team or Club.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
I have always desired to be the first member of my family to further one’s education and obtain a college degree. Therefore, after completing high school, I knew it was necessary to locate a college that was affordable, accessible and offered the career path that was right for me. SUNY Schenectady was the college for me!

What has been your favorite class so far?
My favorite class thus far is Criminology. From the beginning of the class when we were asked to define the term, many of us thought we had the idea of Criminology. There was so much more to it. It is quite intriguing!

What are your goals as a student leader?
A student leader is the voice of all students. It is a humbling experience because in order to lead, you must first serve. Hence, my goal is to focus on serving each student according to their needs in order to create a comfortable and safe environment at SUNY Schenectady.

What are your goals after you graduate?
Ideally, after graduation, I plan to enter the workforce to gain experience and exposure in the career field as a law enforcement officer while furthering my education at a four-year institution to earn my bachelor’s degree in the same career field.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
When I am not attending school, I focus more on outdoor activities because I am very fond of sports, especially soccer. However, when the weather does not permit, I do enjoy cooking or snuggling up to a great novel.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
I would say my Grammy gives me the best advice because whatever the circumstance is, she always maintains a sound and positive mindset. Her words are filled with love and compassion, while making her point very concise.

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
I do not have one of either.

Who do you follow on social media?
Mostly friends and family.

Skittles or M&Ms?
M&Ms all the way! (Preferably the ones filled with caramel).

Sara works at the Canal Side Café and is also Treasurer of the International/English Language Learners Club.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
After graduating from high school, I realized that I did not qualify for many federal grants/aid because of my lack of citizenship status. Therefore, I chose SUNY Schenectady because it was the most affordable option for me.

What has been your favorite class so far?
I appreciate all of the professors I’ve had so far and the knowledge I have gained because of them. If I had to pick one, I would say that Statistics with Professor Holz was my favorite class last semester.

What are your goals as a student leader?
I want to cultivate inclusivity in our school by sharing all the hardships I’ve faced as an immigrant in this country. I want to be the exposure some people need to better understand social issues that pertain to me.

What are your goals after you graduate?
I plan to transfer to a four-year school to continue with my bachelor’s degree in an engineering related field.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
I like to read, although I don’t have much time to do it anymore. I also like to spend time with my cats and watch shows with my girlfriend. On the weekends I visit my family and play with makeup from time to time. Another favorite hobby of mine is taking lengthy naps.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
Throughout my educational career I’ve found various mentors and close relatives that have given me insightful feedback. I couldn’t pick one because they have all influenced me deeply.

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
I like to listen to heavy metal and classic rock but I also like some indie artists. My favorite heavy metal band is Breaking Benjamin and my favorite indie artist has to be Joji. I also enjoy Soda Stereo, Cage the Elephant, Kevin Abstract, and related artists.

Who do you follow on social media?
I do not consume social media because I have found it very detrimental to my self-esteem and mental health. Therefore, I deleted all of my social media accounts!

Skittles or M&Ms?
Sour Skittles to be more precise.

Tuveena is on the Student Activities Board and the Budget and Finance Committee. She is also a member of the Student Volunteer Organization, Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), and the EOP Club.

Why did you decide to attend SUNY Schenectady?
I noticed it had an Aviation Science program, which is something that I did not see in schools that are so close to home. It gives you an opportunity to get your pilot's license and so much more, so I jumped on the opportunity as soon as I could.

What has been your favorite class so far?
My favorite class so far was called Introduction to Flight in the first semester. This was my favorite class because my professor was incredibly supportive and even with her busy schedule, she still managed to give one-to-one help to her students whenever she could. The class gave me a good foundation on what aviation is all about. This helped me apply what I learned in class to flying in real life.

What are your goals as a student leader?
My goal as a student leader is to create and be highly involved in fun activities and events for students so that they can fully enjoy the spring semester. My goal is also to find concerns the students are facing, or things that I personally notice, and bring it to light with my student government members.

What are your goals after you graduate?
My goals after I graduate college are to transfer to a school with a bachelor’s degree in Aviation Science and get a job where I can gain hours in flying. Long-term, I plan to become an Airline Pilot, but I am open to any career with Aviation that sparks my interest.

What do you do when you’re not going to the College?
When I am not in school, I work at a retirement home with senior citizens. I also spend my time at the airport with my flying instructor during our flying lessons. I enjoy spending time with my family whenever I can, considering how filled my schedule is.

Who gives you the best advice and why?
I feel like the person who gives me the best advice is my professor Barbara Jones. This is because she answers my questions about Aviation with the most honesty and realism she can. She knows the ins and outs of the career and I can talk to her whenever I have any concerns.

Who’s your favorite band or artist?
I do not think I have a favorite band or artist. I do not really listen to bands.

Who do you follow on social media?
I follow my friends, meme accounts, and accounts about Aviation. I also follow NASA because they can give some cool information.

Skittles or M&Ms?
I like M&Ms a lot better than Skittles!!