Axel Kylander - President
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
December began with a Governing Council meeting to settle important mid-year business, as well as the Metro regional meeting, and each of these went well. In my monthly meeting with Chancellor Malhotra, I focused on discussing the pandemic and vaccine education efforts, especially in calling for the System Office and campus administrations to do more and help empower student leaders in fighting the pandemic.
With the news of a massive budget surplus in the coming state legislative session, much attention was also focused on thinking boldly and expansively on how LeadMN can pursue the opportunity to gain larger legislative wins for students on issues like affordability. We have a great chance at restoring Minnesota's investment in higher education, and sent a letter to the Governor and legislative leadership communicating that vision.
Another highlight of the month was visiting Rainy River Community College for its Hunger Free Campus Award ceremony. It was great to visit a campus that is off the usual routes of driving. I had great conversations with local student leadership, staff, and community volunteers about the campus's food insecurity work, providing very helpful insights into creative solutions to basic needs support in remote areas.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I see the legislative session as a great opportunity to get more students involved in a variety of ways. Between January Conference and Advocacy Day I want to host several discussion spaces to talk about legislative topics, any questions student have, and especially to help alleviate all the anxiety and uncertainty that can come with being new to this part of student leadership. I also see this as a great way to engage students on what's happening on their campuses and ways to pursue their campus-level goals.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
I think my biggest achievement of the month was in my continued advocacy to the Chancellor on vaccine education. Addressing the pandemic with tangible, effective action is one of the most important issues right now, as it has been for about 2 years now. More needs to be done, and I hope there is some efficacy in continuing to champion specific approaches to fighting the pandemic at the state level.
David Mesta - Vice President
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I helped announce the winners for the Democracy Cup awards for MN colleges. I also attended the GC meeting and also the Metro regional meeting connecting with students. I met with PC to work and finalize the legislative agenda to be voted on at the January Conference. I met with the Chancellors to discuss items.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have been reaching out and trying to get more students involved by joining open GC and PC positions and to get students to attend the January Conference.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My biggest accomplishment has been meeting and working with the Platform Committee members to work on the legislative agenda and begin research on different issues that affect students.
Ali Tomashek - Public Relations Coordinator
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Per my PRC duties outlined in the bylaws, I have taken minutes at weekly Cabinet meetings, PC and GC meetings, graded scholarships prior to the board meeting, served as the chair of the first Scholarship Board meeting, helped in maintaining a network of communication between campuses via Discord and email, assisted VP to finalize the legislative agenda with the Platform Committee, participated in planning April GA with the Scholarship Gala Committee, jumped back into brainstorming campaign ideas with the LeadMN College Affordability Team (fun media coming soon!), maintained campus statuses for the Star Campus Program, filmed a new introduction video for the Star Campus website, attended and had the honor of presenting the Hunger Free Campus Award to Pine Technical Community College, participated in the Minnesota State Technology Council and Transfer Governance Committee, and had a successful debrief meeting with the Staff and Cabinet here at LeadMN.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
December was the final stretch of the semester, tying up loose ends and reflecting on the first half of the school year. Engagement is tough in December, as the first two weeks are geared towards taking final exams and the last couple weeks focus around the holidays. However, we were very active in Minnesota State system committee meetings, covid-19 vaccine awareness and mental health advocacy during increasingly stressful times. I did a lot of work within the office and those committee meetings, as well as some personal check-ins with students to see how their mental health is doing during finals. I've learned that many students not only face the stress from their courses and daily life, but the stress of how they are going to pay for their next semester. The paycheck-to-paycheck lifestyle has morphed into a semester-to-semester financial aid stress and its such a travesty for students. My plan is to gather more student stories around college affordability and the obstacles students must overcome to get their financial aid figured out and tuition covered. Many students received scholarships for Spring semester, so I'd like to really go full-swing in promoting the scholarships for next fall (applications are due in April!). I believe community college should be available to everyone, and the cost of college should not prevent student success or hinder their mental health. We're a strong collective of students here in Minnesota, we support and look out for each other, and that's what truly makes a difference.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
My most exciting achievement for the month of December had to have been awarding Pine Technical Community College the Hunger Free Campus Award. It is always so humbling and fulfilling for me to award campuses for their success in improving student resources around food insecurity and basic needs. Often, I find myself in tears sharing how much of an impact the Hunger Free Program has had for me in my personal life. Nearly a decade ago, when I first attended college, I had to drop out due to my inability to pay rent and afford groceries. Now, I can physically see how much these institutions care, and they are directly impacting the lives and dignity of students at our schools. Round of a applause for all the campuses that have achieved Hunger Free Campus in 2021! Another achievement that is dear to my heart are the LeadMN Leadership Scholarship Awards. I owe my educational opportunities to my scholarship donors at NHCC, and to participate in the LeadMN board that gets to decide who receives the scholarships from our organization? *chefs kiss* Congratulations to those scholarship winners, may your educational journey bring you closer to your dreams.
Marcelus Ifonlaja - Treasurer
What progress have you made on your Cabinet duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
We conducted our monthly fiscal committee meeting and a lot came out of it. From there we were able to design the LeadMN hoodies which we hope to expand to more merch. We also started a fundraising plan for the summer. Finally I realized I was making too many mistakes when it came to approvals and reimbursements so I've decided to get organized by creating a spreadsheet that lists duties and accountability measures.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I hope some of our involved students are excited to fundraise by working at Target Field. If we can get a solid group of individuals for this I am sure they will build a sense of community which is what LeadMN is all about. We are also headed to the Power in Diversity Conference soon which we will present on equity and talk about LeadMN to students at. Finally I've enjoyed gaming with my friends I've met at the conferences.
Outline your biggest achievement this month?
Building the LeadMN store and the first hoodie designs by far!
Logan Rempert - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have reached out to Mesabi Range students to formulate a plan moving forward to get future GC reps / PC reps and their alternates.
I attended the GC meeting that was held at the offices in St. Paul in December.
I met with Matt Gutsch and Mike Dean around December 19th to develop a plan for Senate's constitution and bylaws. Matt is helping me finish/modify those prior to the merger this summer/fall.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I will be making a plan with my senate to make sure that there are governing council representatives and platform committee members soon. I want to appoint Ethan Browning from Itasca for a position, and possibly Jonathon Pearson from Hibbing.
I had texted back and forth with David Mesta about setting up meetings, to approve Ethan in particular, but I have been unable to communicate with my friends that currently go to school there. I will try harder to setup this essential meeting that we must have to continue LEADMN's presence on our NeHED schools' campuses.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
COVID is spreading through our athletics teams. Hibbing's athletic director, and both VCC's and HCC's entire mens basketball team are out sick at the moment.
We do not have proper contact tracing, as I have classes with these students and I was not properly notified. Students are unwilling to wear masks fashioned onto their faces properly. I had to directly address a student in class and was met with backlash via text from her after I witnessed her mask less for almost 2 whole class sessions. She is currently out sick today. I have had a difficult time bringing people together considering the influx of people that have been getting Covid after winter break. People go to class, leave, and repeat. Current times make it difficult to find students on campus when they're constantly leaving.
The Womens/Mens locker rooms are disgusting on HCC's campus, I sent email to our provost about the sludgy conditions we are left to shower in after sports/gym. Hibbings' campus has like 1 full-time maintenance staff, and COVID is spreading rampantly because of it.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I plan to meet with students in their classrooms with my fellow senate members to drive interest, and get students involved, signed up, and engaged. I feel like if we held a virtual summit for these northern NeHED schools, that would be of great benefit. If we were to locate individuals on each campus that can personally invest the time to help me locate potential interested students, that would be helpful as well. Creating some fliers/forms that I can physically present students would be helpful especially since everyone is always on the move. This would help because not every student has time to sit and discuss things while on their way to class.
Betsy Harasyn - Governing Council Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I came in for the closed door Governing Counsel Mtg. that was held on 12/3/21. I informed the new advisor at the Pipestone Student Senate meeting in December that the officers should register and attend the January 2022 Student Leadership Conference. I completed the online training for Mental Health First Aid Responder, and now I need to finish the process.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I want the LuVerne and Pipestone Campuses of MN West to set up a meeting for February or March and have the LeadMN Cabinet members come down and speak to us about LeadMN. I need to reach out to the two campus presidents that I know of, to let them know that I would like to give LeadMN their school emails. I will send an email to the advisors informing them that senators should register for Advocacy Day in St. Paul. I will also ask each campus to donate something to the Gala in April.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Nothing to report at this time.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I am planning to set up a meeting with the LuVerne and Pipestone Senates to meet to Lead MN cabinet members.
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 have been to submit the leadership report for December 2021, Attend the December PC Meeting & Training, and Attend the January Leadership Conference for the PC Meeting to approve the legislative agenda.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
This month I plan on contacting the student senate presidents of the region, and to ask for student stories to submit to LeadMN. I was unable to make a campus visit before the end of Fall Semester due to finals, holidays, and other things I was having to do during winter break and had not had a chance to get in touch with the other campuses in my region or with LeadMN to schedule these. I am planning though in February, or potentially January if I have the time to make up for these and to try and plan a campus visit to one of the schools in my region, as well as collect student stories by the end of February. I am also planning to submit my own student story by the end of February as well. I am also to meet with the LeadMN Vice President for a 1:1 sometime in January.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Currently I have no update on any campuses in the region, as I will need to contact them this month to get an update since I still have not been able to get a response yet.
MSCS is beginning their spring semester January 10th, but no major events are scheduled this month as of right now.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
As of right now, I have not been able to engage or interact with students across the southeast region, but as mentioned in the previous topic I will be looking to contact the student senate presidents of the region to get in contact with students as well as hopefully schedule a campus visit with LeadMN.
Ashley Hawker - Platform Committee Representative
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
Being there for students and being the voice.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
Discord and event planning for welcome week.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Winter break happened, nothing to report.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
Asking them to join the school Discord.
John Runningen - Presidents' Group Chair
What progress have you made on your GC or PC duties as outlined in the LeadMN bylaws?
I have attempted to create a stronger connection between presidents in order to create a strong community presence where we can discuss and help one another.
What have you done or what is your plan to get students more involved with LeadMN?
I have sent out emails and created a QR code link to the discord so there would be an easy way of joining and creating our community on discord like we voted on in our last meeting.
What is happening on the campuses in your region?
Many of the campuses are having issues with recruitment. Also heard that most campuses are looking to hold a vaccine info event to get more students vaccinated.
What are you doing to help get new students involved?
I am sending out emails and invites to get the presidents involved on the discord because it is such a great tool. So far haven't gotten many but looking to get the majority on there by the end of my term.