Former student council members net awards
Former Fanshawe Student Union executives Veronica Barahona and Andrew Payne made the FSU proud in May when they took home honours from the College Student Alliance (CSA) at the annual week-long changeover conference, where new student leaders met with returning ones for leadership training and goal-setting for the year ahead.
Barahona, who was FSU president last year, took home the Advocate of the Year award for the Southwest region. The award is presented to one person in each region “who has been a voice for students and has supported student initiatives within their student associations,” she explained.
“I'm very honoured to have received this award,” Barahona continued, “however this is definitely representative of the executives' work this past year. Together we made a very interesting year a successful one. I definitely couldn't have done it without their hard work and dedication.”
Payne, the FSU's former Vice President of External Affairs, received a leadership award from the CSA. While it feels wonderful to win, he said, he didn't get involved with the CSA to win awards. “I got involved because I felt I could contribute and make a positive difference. With that mindset, seeing CSA events run smoothly and talking to satisfied members is recognition enough. Happy members is an award in and of itself, so winning this award after a successful year is nothing but sweet and satisfying.”
The CSA is an advocacy organization consisting of 16 colleges and 23 student associations and represents over 70 per cent of all Ontario college students. “In a nutshell, the College Student Alliance is a provincial advocacy group that lets the branch of the government that deals with post-secondary education — the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities — know what the college students of Ontario would like to see happen,” explained Payne. “In addition, the CSA also provides its members with support on just about any issue that a student leader might face.”
For more information about the CSA, go to collegestudentalliance.ca.
Barahona, who was FSU president last year, took home the Advocate of the Year award for the Southwest region. The award is presented to one person in each region “who has been a voice for students and has supported student initiatives within their student associations,” she explained.
“I'm very honoured to have received this award,” Barahona continued, “however this is definitely representative of the executives' work this past year. Together we made a very interesting year a successful one. I definitely couldn't have done it without their hard work and dedication.”
Payne, the FSU's former Vice President of External Affairs, received a leadership award from the CSA. While it feels wonderful to win, he said, he didn't get involved with the CSA to win awards. “I got involved because I felt I could contribute and make a positive difference. With that mindset, seeing CSA events run smoothly and talking to satisfied members is recognition enough. Happy members is an award in and of itself, so winning this award after a successful year is nothing but sweet and satisfying.”
The CSA is an advocacy organization consisting of 16 colleges and 23 student associations and represents over 70 per cent of all Ontario college students. “In a nutshell, the College Student Alliance is a provincial advocacy group that lets the branch of the government that deals with post-secondary education — the Ministry of Training Colleges and Universities — know what the college students of Ontario would like to see happen,” explained Payne. “In addition, the CSA also provides its members with support on just about any issue that a student leader might face.”
For more information about the CSA, go to collegestudentalliance.ca.
