WEB EXTRA: More candiates, more biographies
Agricultural Senator
Dairy Science major Stacy Zilles is a senior from College Ward. She was State Junior Holstein Assoc. president for Utah, chapter FFA president in high school, recipient of American FFA degree, National Distinguished Junior member of the Holstein Assoc., and Mendon, Utah Stake young single adult leader.
Ziles’s goals are to establish a sense of “unity” among the student in the College of Ag; educate all students at USU about why were are the “Aggies” and what it means to be a land grant university; bring in speakers and Ag industry leaders to present seminars to students in the College of Ag; establish USU College of Agriculture as one of the premier Ag schools in the nation; and get a couch in the Ag. science building entrance.
“Bring respect and prestige to the College of Ag and to inform USU students of the importance of Agriculture …. that’s what I’m all about,” Ziles said.
Tina Riding from Hyrum is a senior Animal Science major. Her experience includes Ag. Council secretary, Ag. week committee, Ag leadership retreat committee, lobbying the Legislature and meeting with the Board of Regents, and community and religious leadership.
Riding said she plans to increase interaction and communication between the College of Agriculture, the University, and the community; ensure Agriculture facilities are not replaced by other university interests; lobby the state legislature for disabilities center funding; sponsor for a permanent “A” on the hill; and promote better use and accountability of class lab fees.
“I will increase opportunities for students in the College of Agriculture through reaching out to the community and provide internships in return,” Riding said. “I will create opportunities for the College of Agriculture to leave a legacy of Aggie Pride in the University and community.”
Kamas native Mark Ure is a junior Agriculture Systems Technology major. He serves as National Vice President for the Post-Secondary Agriculture students association, Ambassador for the College of Agriculture, active member of the Ag Council, Vice President for the Ag Tech Club, and Vice President of South Summit FFA chapter.
If elected Ure would increase awareness of agriculture throughout the university through educational activities; encourage and promote students from the College of Agriculture to be more involved with other university activities; promote the College of Ag at the university level; increase communication and unity between the different clubs in the College of Ag; and plan and carry out innovative as well as traditional activities.
“Agriculture is important to me,” Ure said. “It is a large part of me, of the person that I am. It is the backbone of America. I believe that through education we can produce more and better agriculture products. And keep America in the lead with agriculture products.”
Business Senator
Junior Andy Hyer is a Finance major from Logan. He has been involved in Student Alumni Association, Business Ambassadors, and intramural sports.
Hyer’s goals are to establish “E-say” for improved online student/adminstration communication; strengthen college camaraderie through student activities; create more career opportunities i.e. quality internships, more interaction with corporations, seminars with corporate executives; open lines of communication with recent USU grads as well as all alumni; and speed up the sensor on the sliding door to the Sci Tech library.
“I will work for not only meaningful classroom, but actual “hands-on” experiences for a well-rounded education, so we can be proud of ourselves here at USU, and wherever our professional careers take us,” Hyer said.
Adrienne Bergs is a junior Finance/Economics major form Fort Mitchell, Kentucky. Her activities include Business Council service VP, Lacrosse team member and co-captain, rhetoric associate nominee, Student Alumni Association, College of Business professor of the year selection committee, Homecoming committee.
Berg plans to work closely with career services to assist student in the job placement process by contacting alumni; along with teacher evaluations, have advisor evaluation each semester; bring more speakers to Utah State University from large corporations; further implement advocacy of the real estate licensing classes; and enhance student involvement throughout the College of Business.
“As business senator of Utah State University, I will represent the overall concerns and best interests of the students in the College of Business to the faculty, administration, and ASUSU Executive Council,” Bergs said.
Providence native James Ellis is a senior Finance and Economics major. He has been involved on the Business council clubs and organizations committee, Finance Club president and secretary, Phi Beta Lambda Executive VP and service VP, study abroad program in Israel, Egypt, and Jordan, and two year voluntary service in Washington D.C.
If elected Ellis said plans to improve the image of the College of Business; recognize College of Business achievements; publicize accomplishments of students and faculty; publish monthly newsletter; and publish College of Business student directory.
“The College of Business at Utah State University is excellent,” Ellis said. “I want our students, faculty, employees, and schools to know of our success so that we can improve our image.”
Education Senator
Michelle Larson is a senior Special Education/Elementary Education dual major from Sandy. Her experiences are College of Education Council, USU Golden Key National Honor Society officer, student body president Snow College, Executive VP at Snow, Snow College Senator President, Election chairperson, student directory chair, Member of Board of Trustee at Snow, Utah Council of Studentbody Presidents, and delegate to Statewide collegiate Legislative assembly, and church service in South Carolina.
Larson said she plans include student and faculty appreciation days; voice opinion in favor of preserving HPER field for student recreational use; support clubs within the College of Education; vote for legislation that favors student rights; and promote strong communication between departments within the college through department representatives.
“Through my experience as a student and a student government leader, I have gained a great respect for students rights. I will stand strong for students. Students I am here for you,” Larson said.
Communicative disorders major Jamie Lewis is a junior from Tremonton. She has served as Education Council activities VP, Arts and Lectures Poetry and a Beverage chair, STAB publicity committee, STAB special events committee, Howl committee, Mardi Gras committee, STAR committee, Alternative breaks, storytelling committee and LDSSA.
Lewis would integrate faculty and students in and out of academic settings; create a sense of unity and identity among the departments in the College of Education; effectively represent and communicate the issues and agenda of the College of Education to ASUSU and the administration; and evaluate the effectiveness of the advisors.
Lewis said, “My platform? To magnify the experience of students in the College of Education by: Increasing interaction among students and faculty, determining the issues of each department, and eliminating problems due to inadequate advising in the college.”
Engineering Senator
Blake Woolf Bingham is a Civil Engineering major form Bountiful, Utah. He has experience as Engineering Council member, Aggie leadership academy facilitator, Eagle scout, Engineering Dean’s office assistant, Engineering state facilitator, and STAB.
Bingham’s goals are to create the office of “Engineering Student Advocate” to ensure that Engineering student’s rights are protected more fully; raise funds and purchase more desks and table for better studying in the engineering breezeway; continue complete domination over the College of Resources; provide more student access t
o ASUSU for engineering students; and relieve engineering student stress levels by providing excellent activities throughout the year.
“I want to challenge old methods of thought concerning issues that are especially pertinent to engineering students. I feel that it is time to reevaluate our standing on textbook pricing, professor and student relations and course requirements,” Bingham said.
Electrical engineering major Chad Carlson is a junior from Layton. He has served on PLC, University ambassador, ASUSU Ombudsman committee, senior class president Layton High School.
If elected Carlson said he would lobby the state legislature for money for a new Engineering building that has been recommended by Governor Leavitt; gather student and faculty input on what to include in new building plans; plan and put on a quality E-week with great activities that reinforce E-week traditions; recognize exceptional student for academic and extracurricular achievements; and encourage faculty to “read and listen to student input provided in semesterly evaluations.”
Family Life Senator
Kristen Stokes is a sophomore Dietetics major from Logan. She has participated in the Family Life Executive Council as faculty relations VP, Family Life Council, Family Life Ambassador, Special Olympics awards and ceremonies chair, and Alternative Breaks committee.
Kristen said she plans to increase student awareness and involvement with a College of Family Life webpage, state of the college address, club co-operation and involvement, college wide service projects; continued improvement of student and faculty relations and communications, and increase alumni networking.
“The College of Family Life has a lot to offer. One of my goals it so educate my fellow students about true opportunities and privileges that come with being a student in the College of Family Life,” Stokes said.
Nibley native Monique Nielsen is a senior Family Consumer Sciences Education major. She has served on the Family Life Council special events committee; Family Life week committee; Co-chair of Utah Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Conference; Student Alumni Association member; A-day committee; Education council member; and Utah Association of Technology and Family Consumer Sciences Educators Council.
If elected, Nielsen plans to increase communcation within the College of Family Life by developing a monthly newsletter and e-mail system; increase recognition of outstanding students and faculty in the College of Family Life; Strengthen unity and student involvement by planning monthly activities within the college; develop networking programs and increasing relationships with USU alumni and professionals from the College of Family Life; and be an active voice and participant for the College of Family Life in the ASUSU legislation.
“As Family Life senator I will be committed to working hard to represent the students and faculty in the College of Family Life,” Nielsen said. “I am dedicated to increasing student involvement, unity, recognition, and communication within the college. I will strive to make our education at Utah State University an enjoyable and memorable experience.”
HASS Senator
Bethany Allen from Kaysville is a sophomore Public Relations and Liberal Arts major. She has served as co-director Special Olympics area games, VP LDS Institute Student Council in Blacksburg, Virginia, STAB board member, HASS council, Logan LDSSA campus relations, and Virginia Tech and USU PRSSA member.
Allen said she plans to actively work to reinstate the creative writing contest; improve and promote the “Dinner with 12 strangers” program; increase community education and publicity of the fine arts at USU; better recognition and image of HASS achievements; and promote excellent student/faculty relations.
“I want every week to be HASS week. Students to know more about what HASS offers as far as education, internships and networking. I want to make HASS a high-profiled image through recognition and publicity. I also want to implement a student mentoring program, promoting the quality of a Liberal Arts education,” Allen said.
History/Asian studies major, Jeff Brighton is a junior from Fairport, New York. He has held numerous leadership positions throughout his acadmic/work history, attended USU since 1997 and thereby familiar with student needs, and has an affable easy to approach personality.
Brighton’s goals are to apply continual pressure on the USU administration to address the parking shortage; encourage departments to complete class schedule at least 12 months in advance, always; greater student control over core/major curriculum; and an escalator on Old Main Hill.
“ASUSU’s long history of voting their own thoughts, ignoring the student they represent, has gone on too long. I promise to represent the HASS studentbody. Read my lips, no new student fees,” Brighton said.
Lucas “Duke” Mumford is a junior Philosophy major from Clifton, Idaho. He has served in student government for two years including studentbody VP, team captain for high school wrestling team, Taggart Student Center night manager, farm hand/personnel manager, and a wide variety of church, school and community service.
Mumford plans to fulfill student needs by making the senate office more accessible; represent HASS interests in student government; help integrate undeclared and freshmen into college life; inform the students in the college of HASS about upcoming events; and generate support for HASS sponsored events.
“As TSC night manager I’ve been exposed to ASUSU and to an array of students,” Mumford said. “Through these experiences I am prepared to represent the variety of interests that embody HASS.”
Natural Resources Senator
Preston Frishknect is a senior from Manti, majoring in Environmental Studies with a Biology and Pre-law/policy emphasis. He has experience as CNR Student Council special events chair, attended and participated in spring CNR student council leadership retreat, active participation in CNR student council meetings and planning, employed by Dept. of Fisheries and Wildlife, National Aquatic monitoring center, and selected for Washington D.C. internship in the office of Rep. Jim Hansen, House resources chair.
If elected Preston said he hopes to increase the voice of the CNR studentbody on campus by implementing creative ways to enhance student awareness and feedback with regard to current ASUSU legislation; increase opportunities for participation with the CNR student council; work for the integration of a newly developed mission statement in Council activities and events, as well as development of new traditons and activities that have wide appeal to the CNR studentbody; and promote “leadership through diversity” with student pride and cohesiveness in the College.
“In order to facilitate awareness, participation, and leadership, I will increase means of student input and leadership experience at all levels of student organization with the end of enhancing the experience of students who participate in the College of Natural Resources,” Frishknect said.
Science Senator
Kelly Birch, from Hyrum, is a senior Chemistry/Computer Science major. he has experience as the Computer Science department representative, Chemistry dept. representative, Science council member, YFP mentor, and LDS mission.
Birch’s goals are e-mail for life; increase networking with a graduate database; promote interdisciplinary studies/activities/ more corporation – student interaction; and maintain our cost efficient education.
“E. Pluribus unum is my platform. to unify: USU Science graduates and students through networking, the Science department by increased interdepartmental activities and the Science Department and the Science oriented clubs,” Birch said.
Junior Biology major David O. Hoyal is from Highland. He has served on the Science council, LDSSA Exec. council International VP, LDSSA International committee member, project coordinator of
ASUSU service center college bound program, and out patient surgery volunteer at Logan Regional Hospital.
If elected Hoyal will provide leadership and service opportunities in order to better represent clubs and organizations within the college; increase awareness of research opportunities; facilitate and inform students of the Intercollege Ombudsman program; strengthen the relationship between deans, department heads, faculty, alumni, and students by continuing traditional “brown nose” luncheons; and increase the number of True Aggies within the College of Science.
“As Science Senator I will work to increase opportunities for you to interact with faculty, research, alumni, and ASUSU together to enhance your undergraduate experience at Utah State University,” Hoyal said.
St. Anthony, Idaho, native Abby Bennett is a junior Math Education major. She has experience as a member of the Science council for two years, involved in service center with Sticks, Special Olympics coach, Math major and Chemistry minor with good problem solving skills, and effective communication skills developed while working at the Center of persons with disabilities.
Bennett said she plans to increase visibility of the Science council by posting weekly agendas on the Internet and distributing monthly newsletters; promote clubs within each department; improve student/professor relations by continuing departmental luncheons; promote advisor evaluation to improve quality of advising in the College of Science; and improve intercollegiate relations through activities and increased communication.
“As Science Senator, I will use my talents, experience, and time to inform the students of the College of Science about the issues that concern them,” Bennett said. “I will also be constantly open to new ideas and carry on effective traditions.”
Roberto Mello from Manaus, Brazil, is a senior Computer Science major with a Biology minor. He has been a Science enthusiast for many years, co-founder and active officer in the most successful Computer Science Club on campus, a full scholarship recipient already, a go-getter that created and maintains the new book exchange website for free to help students, and on the National Dean’s list.
If elected he plans to bring College of Science closer to its students; promote extra-curricular activities to complement learning; better relationship with alumni and have networking activities with Alumni to give student guidance for after-college life; stimulate research through a science forum for students to display their research and areas of interest as an exchange with other universities; and create a website where Science students can collaborate together and communicate within the College of Science.
“I want a College of Science working for and with the students where we are stimulated through research, forums and clubs. A college closer to students, hand-in hand with alumni,” Mello said.
Graduate Senate VP
Dan McCay is a Instructional Technology Grad student from San Diego, Calif. He lists his qualifications as he loves Utah State and he is running unopposed.
McCoy said he plans to represent the common goals of Graduate students; increase the communication between the senate and student body; and support the Graduate Senate President.
“I want to be actively involved in making changes that will encourage more graduate students to attend Utah State University,” McCoy said.