With three candidates eyeing the presidential throne, international student Matt Stewart pulled ahead of his opponents for the 2014/15 presidency of the Fanshawe Student Union.

“It's a week and a half of hard work and determination,” said Stewart. “First here, last to leave is what I've been working on, so it's really good for the hard work to finally pay off.”

The Australian native will be working Vice President (VP) Internal Cheriss Marson, VP External Jessica Brook, VP Finance Taylor Lodge, VP Entertainment Anthony Sawyers and VP Athletics and Residence Life Alan Bushell. Zachary Benayon was elected the student representative for the Board of Governors.

Stewart is excited to work with the new executives.

“Every single person who has been awarded with a role this year is highly motivated and ready to do their job,” he said. “It's a vital thing that you have five other members around you that bring [ideas] to the table as well.”

Ultimately, it was his love for students and student advocacy that encouraged him to run for president this year.

“I wanted to give back to a community that's given so much to me,” he explained. “I came [from Australia] without a family, without friends, and [the FSU] really was a family to me. I really want to try and give back to the people that took me in so nicely.”

Stewart will be the first international president in the history of the FSU.

Above all else, his goal is to maximize the Student Union's visibility.

“My campaign is vision equals knowledge,” he said. “If we are more visible to the students and the students have more knowledge about what they can get from us, then they're going to be more liable to come to us and sort out those programs and those facilities we offer.”

“With that, I can build a better program [and] better facilities once we have student involvement.”

Stewart has two years of FSU executive council experience under his belt, which he also pairs with his volleyball captaincy experience to add to his resume.

“That's one big thing that I am really looking forward to; is leading a team and showing them the direction that I've learned through the past two presidents that I've been under,” he said.

“It's more of a learning curve and I'm looking forward to teaching and being the person that students can ask any question to and learn a lot off of.”

Stewart encouraged all students to get involved, as he did when he first landed at Fanshawe.

“I dove in headfirst and I haven't looked back. So get involved, it's proven that a student that comes here for academics and also gets involved in student life is more successful at college in the long run.”

Like all other presidents before him, Stewart would also like to leave a legacy behind.

“I just want to be the leader that someone can turn to with a problem — person or work-related. Just be a friend to the executives.”

Stewart will take over the presidency in May, when current prez Adam Gourlay ends his term.

Ballots submitted: 2609

President
STEWART, Matt: 1169
MEHTA, Ashish: 718
BENNETT, Meaghan: 509
Spoiled: 178

VP Finance
LODGE, Taylor: 1164
CLUSIAU, Austin: 797
Spoiled: 613

VP Internal Affairs
MARSON, Cheriss: 1387
RASTOGI, Angad: 740
Spoiled: 447

VP External & Academic Affairs
BROOK, Jessica: 1443
JACK, Keir: 540
Spoiled: 591

VP Athletics & Residence Life (BUSHELL, Alan)
Yes: 1739
No: 244
Spoiled: 591

VP Entertainment
SAWYERS, Anthony: 1257
KAISAR, Kevin: 798
Spoiled: 519

Board of Governors
BENAYON, Zachary: 1032
ONYIA, Princewill: 961
Spoiled: 616