President

Frankie Becerra

Campus: Century College

I am currently the Director of Legislation at Century College, a Steering Committee member, as well as  Equity and Inclusion Intern with LeadMN. My journey through education has gone through PSEO (Century College), a 4 year institute, a gap year, then returning to my 2 year school.

I go by the the motto "Moving as ONE to empower ALL.” Meaning that we can debate within our organization but when we face outside opposition we move in lockstep and not forget those who we represent. A students hardest test should come during finals, not outside of the classroom.

If I have not spoken to you, let's change that today!

1. What degree or certificate program are you seeking?
Currently I am finishing my Associates Degree. I am pursuing a  Political Science degree for my bachelors, afterwards I will seek a law degree. 

2. What are your future career plans?
My future lies in where I can serve my community  best. I want to uphold our laws while creating a more equitable and inclusive country for every individual in this nation. 

3. Please describe your previous student government or professional experience, and how it has prepared you for this position.
I have served on senate for a year and a half. Last year as a senator at large then on the executive board this year. I was a senior operations supervisor for 3 years at Como Town. These roles have prepared me to deal with multiple leadership styles as well as learning styles. Overall I learned the most in my role as President of Movimiento Latino (a Latinx advocacy group). In this role I learned that when you are in leadership roles you set the tone but don't have to play all the instruments. Delegation is important not only to play on peoples strengths but to develop those around you.  

4. Why are you running for this position?
The role of the president is to be the catalyst of important discussions as well as the point person for causes that our students want and need to change. This past year I have spent learning about what has been done to further our experience as students through LeadMN and having one on one conversations with individuals. Each person has their own story on how they got to where they are and the role of President is to understand the over 180,000 students that fall under the umbrella of LeadMN.  We all have different passions but we have a lot of overlap, I want to unify likeminded causes around our system so we do not feel alone in our battles, but empower each other. Students now, more than ever are before face challenges outside of the classroom, my job is to ensure that the hardest test a student has to face comes inside of the classroom. 

5. What challenges do you see facing Minnesota's community and technical college students?
Time and opportunity gaps..the biggest challenges to the modern student. Many of us are living in what I call the 6-3,3-6,6-9 lifestyle that I experienced last academic year. While the times change from person to person, this lifestyle is 6-3 work, 3-6 study, 6-9 class. I had no time in my schedule to be an advocate and I know this is true for many students even those who we do not see because they have to support themselves or their dependents. We have a plethora of issues that originate from time and opportunity gaps. A student who has not had a meal in over 24 hours, will not be able to fully focus on a test. A student who has worked 60+ hours a week, while raising children cannot fill out scholarship after scholarship. Throughout all this they still accomplish all they want and more. 

Frankie Becerra headshot

Vice President

Oballa Oballa

Campus: Riverland Community College-Austin

My name is Oballa Oballa, I was born in Ethiopia and grew up in Kenya. We moved to the United States with my family in December 2013 as refugees in search of a better life and opportunities. I am very active on my campus and within the community. I speak four languages; Anyuak, Arabic, English, and Swahili. During my free time, I enjoy going on road trips, playing soccer and cooking traditional food.

I currently serve as the Student Senate President at Riverland-Austin and LeadMN Southeast Region Platform Committee Representative. I am a board member for the Austin Human Rights Commission, which advocates for diversity and equality within the Austin community. I also serve as Interim Secretary for the Anyuak Youth Association. This is an organization that is designed to empower Anyuak youths through inspirational and educational programs. I also volunteer as an interpreter in the community during my free time.

1. What degree or certificate program are you seeking?
I am currently seeking an associate's degree in Human Services and Liberal Arts from Riverland Community College. After graduation, I will go on to pursue a bachelor's Degree in Social Work from The College of St. Scholastica.

2. What are your future career plans?
After graduating with my bachelor's degree, I plan on pursuing my master's degree in Counselling. I want to work as a social worker in a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) or a setting that will enable me to assist people with different needs. I have always had a passion for helping those who are in need and my career path will enable me to do so.

3. Please describe your previous student government or professional experience, and how it has prepared you for this position.
In 2014, which was my first year in a Vocational School, I served as President of the Student Government Association at Boxelder Job Corps in Rapid City, South Dakota. It helped me grow as a person and improve on my leadership and communication skills. This experience motivated me to become a better leader and join the Student Senate when I enrolled at Riverland Community College. I was elected as the Public Relations Coordinator of the Austin senate for the year 2016-2017. In April of 2017, I was elected Student Senate President for Riverland Community College-Austin for the 2017-2018 academic year. I was elected as LeadMN Platform Representative for Southeast Minnesota at the Spring General Assembly. I have been involved in many activities during my presidency advocating for my campus and my region.

4. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for Vice President of LeadMN to bring change to Minnesota community and technical colleges. I want to make sure our students' voices are heard and that the next Governor understands the importance of education at two-year colleges and what students need to be successful. I want the topic of higher education to be the first item on the governor's agenda when he/she gets into office. Our politicians are no longer considering the importance of affordable education and that is why tuition at two-year colleges continues to increase. I want make sure all community colleges are getting the same treatment whether rural or metro. From south to east, north to west, I will commit to hearing and addressing the needs of all two-year campuses across the state of Minnesota

5. What challenges do you see facing Minnesota's community and technical college students?
The number one challenge students are facing at community and technical college right now is high tuition. College affordability is a huge problem in Minnesota. Students are working two jobs while attending school full time so they can cover their tuition. Some still can't afford college even though they work two jobs because of other financial expenses. We need to work towards an education system that is open and inclusive to all students.

The second challenge that students are facing is the cost of textbooks. Textbooks are one of the greatest postsecondary costs for students. The price for textbooks is getting higher and higher every semester with the average student paying $1200 per year (LeadMN, 2018). This is an unreasonable burden for students. Food insecurity is another challenge that community college students are facing. It causes students to spend more time worrying about food and less time and resources focusing on their education. We need to continue addressing the issue of food insecurity on college campuses. Initiatives such as food pantries and flex dollars are a great resource that can to be applied across Minnesota campuses. I want to work on a system that will help all students struggling with food insecurity.

Oballa Oballa headshot

Public Relations Coordinator

Ocean Lamoureaux

Campus: Anoka-Ramsey Community College-Coon Rapids

Most people assume that I am a city girl, but fun fact I actually grown up in Morris Minnesota. It was a very small town out in the middle of nowhere. I remember when I was eight years old as if it was yesterday. I remember walking along a dirt road and finding a beautiful lake, Surrounded by only trees, little shrubs and a little patch of sand along the shore. I remember the wind on my face and the sand in my toes. Unfortunately, I had to leave that beautiful town. My family and I moved to Princeton Minnesota where I graduated high school and shortly after I started my grand adventure. I am currently the Director of Communications at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. I have many obstacles in my life, but I prefer to highlight the positive things in my life. My life motto is to make someone smile at least once a day. I am well known to be a smiley and bubbly kind of person. 

1. What degree or certificate program are you seeking?
I am currently working on an English Bachelor with and emphasis in Psychology at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. I will be transferring to Hamline University to achieve a Juris Doctorate. 

2. What are your future career plans?
I am currently working at Saliterman & Siefferman Law Firm. Some of my duties include but not limited to: typing up documents, sending out emails, maintaining the office, filing documents and phone numbers, updating any technology around the office and communicating between the other administrative assistance on important dates and documents. I plan to stay with the law firm until I graduate from Hamline University with my Juris Doctorate in Law.  I then plan to join the law firm as a lawyer. After 3 to 4 years I plan to become a Minnesota State Judge. 

3. Please describe your previous student government or professional experience, and how it has prepared you for this position.
I am the Director of Communications for Student Senate at Anoka-Ramsey Community College. Some of my duties include: maintain accurate historical records of Student Senate including documents, record Student Senate meeting minutes, collect Student Senate mail, maintain technology for Student Senate and record the minutes of the Executive Board meetings. This position has taught me to take minutes correctly and accurately. My typing skills have also improved dramatically. The main trait that helped me be successful with my duties were my strong communication skills. Normally when a person hears the word communications they think about talking, but not for me, I think about listening intensely and openly. It takes two people to communicate and if you are always talking then there would only be one line of communication.

I have also been on multiple committees such as a Hiring Committee, Food Service Committee and a Wellness Committee. These committees really put my communication skills to the test. Most of these committees have more than eight people on them. That means you need to try to pick a day that eight people are free. That is not as easy as it sounds. At these committees I would make sure to add the students voice into any decision making and I would also take notes, so then I would be able to bring back accurate information to our Student Senate meetings.

4. Why are you running for this position?
I am running for Public Relations Coordinator because I am passionate about helping others. I understand that sounds cliche, but I truly care about helping students lower textbook cost, I care about saving TRIO and I care about creating a better school system for students. I have had a passion for law and justice since I was in the 5th grade. There is a part of me that refuses to walk away from this. Every time that I took a stand regarding student issues, I would always feel like I was meant to be there. I felt empowered to not only make a difference but to change students lives. Every time I stood up, I would refuse to step down until our student voices were heard.

5. What challenges do you see facing Minnesota's community and technical college students?
I strongly believe in the student's voice and I believe we are doing a great job listening to students and acting accordingly, but I have notice a very important flaw in our methods. Have you ever wondered why not many students are voicing their opinions? Have you ever wondered why there are not many students on committees or a part of Student Senate?

The main problem is the students don't know they have the power. They don't know about committees. They don't know they can fight for new basketballs for open gym or that they can fight for a different food service in our school. They don't know what we do, and they don't know what Student Senate is.

My goal is to not only help students to voice their opinion but to also be informed about everything and anything about LeadMN and about Student Senate. We as students need to know that we can actually get things done. We can choose to have a great school, a better school.

Ocean Lamoureaux headshot

Treasurer

Dillon Forcier

Campus: Lake Superior College

My name is Dillon A. Forcier. I am in my last year of my associates degree. I plan on attending Hamline after next year. In my free time I love to spend time with my wonderful partner and my family. They all are very important to me, and my philosophy on life brings me close to them. But above all else, never forget the gains. Oh, and the brotherhood of fortnite. Can't forget about that one. On a real note, I enjoy exercising. When free time does actually present itself I enjoy relaxing with either my loved ones, or just my dog, whichever is more readily available. 

1. What degree or certificate program are you seeking?
At Lake Superior College, and soon Ridgewater Hutchinson, I am pursuing a Associates Degree with an emphasis on finance transferability. After my 2 year I plan on attending Hamline University for a Finance degree then moving to a law degree at the Mitchell Hamline School of Law.

2. What are your future career plans?
Starting in Late July I'll be a manager at a hotel the business I work for is building. The hotel is mid sized, and it will be a great opportunity for me as I advance in my career. Past that, I want to pursue a law degree and either work in politics or practice real estate and immigration law.

3. Please describe your previous student government or professional experience, and how it has prepared you for this position.
This year has prepared me for this experience immensely. First off, I got my real estate license, working with mainly commercial deals. It has given me a traditional office experience, as well as a professional experience as to how to not only manage but address clients professionally. My work with OERs this year in the system office is what has prepared me the most. I got a business case passed in the system office which will make it possible for students to search for OER courses. This needs to be seen through and holding the system office accountable will be my number one priority this next year. Also, I think I am perfect for the treasurer position because of my business background and future. My interest in finance and my experience managing deals will help me fiscally be prepared for anything the position throws at me. Passionately, I want more with OERs, so I want to keep advocating for something I have invested my blood, sweat, and tears into.

4. Why are you running for this position?
I'm running for the treasurer position because I see it as a vessel to help me grow professionally as well as see OERs through. I am currently serving on LeadMN's fiscal committee, that is a great learning experience and I understand very well how LeadMN's budget works and operates. So the learning curve for this position would be a lot smaller than that for others. Not only fiscal opportunities peak my interest. I want to make sure that what I am doing this year for students has lasting impact. I want to continue my work and change in a larger way. I see this position as the best way to serve the students of LeadMN. Also, as someone who serves on LeadMN's scholarship board,  I plan on coming up with a new creative way to fundraise money so we can give out even more money to our students. I will be willing to listen to anyone who believes they have a good idea here. 

5. What challenges do you see facing Minnesota's community and technical college students?
As the Governing Council Student-at-Large this year, it has taught me to look for the minority opinion. And we have many issues facing us. I think 2018 is a big year for change. In Minnesota, we will play a key role in deciding how money is spent both at the state and federal level. We are a huge swing state this time around. And with a governor's race this year as well we could be seeing a lot being fed to us with a spoon. One thing I see is DACA, as someone who knows dreamers, I know this will affect our students immensely. Along with DACA I think this is the year that we could take back higher education funding. Working on our partnerships with K-12 to create a more than a "get here then we will help you" attitude. In short, I have big visions for the next year. And I think it is a better time than ever to get big things done.

Dillon Forcier headshot

Governing Council Student-At-Large

Melinda-Kassandra Lopez

Representative

Joshua Hansen
Alternate

Platform Committee Student-At-Large

Elizabeth Bloch

Representative

Koen Baglien
Alternate