Ikanih encourages students to join Student Government

The Downtown Milwaukee campus has a new Student Government president, Okeema Ikanih, a student in the Health Unit Coordinator and Physical Therapy Assistant programs.

She explained, “I found out about Student Government by a friend and past student of MATC. I am also a Student Ambassador in the Recruitment department here at MATC, where I give tours and help prospective and new students with the resources and essentials here on campus. So the reason I joined Student Government is to help my fellow student in succeeding in their program and have a college experience like any other college.”

Ikanih explained that Student Government is the voice of the student body and is here to assist in helping to create a better campus life by hosting programs and sponsoring community service events on and off campus. Student Government also provides support to the student clubs and organizations on campus.

“I would advise that Student Government is a great opportunity to experience new things, develop communication, professional and leadership skills, and a great way to give back to the MATC community, and the Milwaukee community as a whole,” Ikanih encouraged.

Ikanih’s goals as president are for the senate to be the voice of all students on campus and to continue to be committed to the enrichment of all our peers and to produce successful students.

“I encourage students to get involved in clubs and organizations on their campus, including Student Government, to be a part of making a positive difference. It’s a great way to network with various students, staff and faculty, as well as an immense opportunity to assist with future professional goals,” Ikanih said.

Richter learns about leadership as Oak Creek Student Government president

The Oak Creek campus has a new Student Government president, Kevin Richter, IT Security Specialist program student. “I joined Student Government Association (SGA) to learn how to be a better leader; both on the job and within the community,” he explained.

According to Richter, the SGA is the voice of the students and helps to make students’ lives a little easier. Richter explained, “Meaning that if a student has a problem, we (SGA) will do what we can to resolve that problem.”

He points out that Student Government hosts different events throughout the school, year to help relieve the stress of school, including the annual boat cruise in September, movie nights, and holiday brunch with Santa.

Richter encourages students to join Student Government. He said, “SGA has several great opportunities to learn. For example, students can learn how most executive boards run and operate. You can also learn how to be a better person in the community by doing any of the service learning projects.”

He continued that there are opportunities for students to develop skills such as public speaking, leadership and advocacy.

Richter’s goal as president is to maintain what the students prior to him have established. He explained, “By that I mean recruiting as many new members as I can, building a strong relationship between the SGA members, participate in most of the events hosted by MATC and the office of Student Life, and most of all, listen to what the students have to say.

“Joining SGA has been one of the best decisions I have made in a long time. It has opened the door to a lot of opportunities that I didn’t think were available to a guy like me. It also has taught me things that will help me to succeed,” Richter concluded.

Coel, West Allis Student Government president, encourages students to become leaders

The West Allis campus has a new Student Government president, Jacquelinne Coel, an Associate of Arts program student.

She explained, “I found out about Student Government from my friends. They were always telling me how great of an opportunity it is and what I could gain from it. I was very intrigued by their passion by it, so I decided to join. I wanted to make a big step in my life, better myself, and I haven’t looked back. Since then I’ve been recording secretary, vice-president, and now president/chair of district events. This has shaped me on never giving up, and believing in myself.”

The role of Student Government is to represent the voice of the student body of MATC, to be a role model, and make sure the students have the best possible college experience, according to Coel.

Coel advises students to not be afraid of opportunities that may come their way, and never listen to negative influences. She said, “If you want something, do it. Have people know your passion!”

Coel’s goals as president are to inspire and motivate the Student Government members, volunteers and students on campus, to have them “shine” and go toward their goals. She also explains another goal is to make West Allis campus a fun and reliable campus for students, staff and faculty.

“Everyone has the ability to become a leader!” Coel exclaimed.

Sobelman takes charge as Mequon Campus Student Government president

The Mequon campus has a new Student Government president, Santino Sobelman, an Associate of Arts program student.

He explained, “I discovered Student Government through the MATC website and thought it would be a great opportunity to meet people and gain experience within a constructive organization.”

The role of Student Government is to be the bridge that connects that voice of the students to faculty and vice versa, according to Sobelman. He explained, “We also build community within the MATC campus to create long-lasting connections and a more supportive community.”

Sobelman encourages students who might be interested in Student Government to make sure that it fits their schedule. He would also advise that if one is truly interested in joining, being active with the organization is key.

Sobelman’s goals as president are to reach out to the student body and express their concerns to administration, as well as spread awareness about Student Government as an organization.