Student Government Association (SGA) senators for 2025-2026 is out for deliberation among the student body starting today, Sept. 17, and ending at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18. Each candidate provides informative and definite ways they would make changes with their idealistic student government position within the USAO community. Before making any enduring decisions, it is important to review all candidates and what they hope to execute and fulfill for USAO and its students in the future.

I was given the chance to get input from most of the candidates for the upcoming SGA election on their goals and what they think they’ll contribute to SGA and the USAO community.

Here is an overview of the candidates for the 2025 SGA election:

Freshman Ward:

Samaya Greene

Changes they hope to make: Wants to make the changes that people want to see and will listen to students concerns.

What they contribute to the SGA: Contributes confidence with her loud and outspoken opinions.

Leeann (August) Kline

Changes they hope to make: Wants to be able to make people heard and make the changes that go unseen by helping minorities on campus be heard.

What they contribute to the SGA: A good listener with the ability to describe difficult things to others. Willing to act as a branch between student and faculty by listening to both sides.

Kylee Smith

Changes they hope to make: Her goal is to make sure that students on campus can be heard.

What they contribute to the SGA:  Observational skills and can see and listen to the needs of others.

Rilee Walker

Changes they hope to make: Hopes to make more inclusion in the Chickasha and USAO community and have more people in the community know about the SGA and what they do.

What they contribute to the SGA: A people-person and wants to make sure that people know that they can tell her anything.

Madison Johnston

Changes they hope to make: Hopes to create a more accepting environment at USAO. She wants to spread awareness and care towards those with special needs and do a lot more in the future for them.

What they contribute to the SGA: She speaks up for people who feel their voice is being unheard with skills in communication, teamwork, and many things that SkillsUSA taught her as a District Officer.

Lanie Salyer

Changes they hope to make: She hopes to get more students involved in campus events and she wants to be a voice for everyone.

What they contribute to the SGA: Contributes a positive attitude and wants to be a listener so the ideas of students can be heard. She works with others and can be a teammate for SGA.

Sophomore Ward:

Jasmine Lamp

Changes they hope to make: Wants to make spaces on campus more accessible to students and overall keep the moral of campus up.

What they contribute to the SGA: Has prior leadership skills from high school and can interact well with others to learn their wants and needs for USAO.

Junior Ward:

Leigha VanOrsdol

Changes they hope to make: She states that accessibility gaps are a common concern on campus. As a senator, she plans to make changes that will fill in some of these gaps.

What they contribute to the SGA: She believes that stable solutions are through collaboration and communication. With her experience in debate, she is able to look at a problem and consider not just her own preferences, but multiple approaches.

Senior Ward:

Ryan Moses

Unable to get comment.

Visual and Performing Arts Ward:

Mobi Jones

Changes they hope to make: He wants to make the SGA less scary for people wanting to be involved. He wants people to be able to bring their concerns to the association and be heard.

What they contribute to the SGA: He is the number one in the Arts and is a music major, so he wants to be the voice for the artist’s community. He is on the board of directors of the Oklahoma Student Government Association and is able to network and communicate with others.

Education and Speech Pathology Ward:

Pillow Ward

Changes they hope to make: They hope to make some impact with the students who need accommodation and they want to suggest more handicapped-friendly needs. They also want to be a voice for people and want to welcome people to tell them about their concerns within the community.

What they contribute to the SGA: They don’t want to make the changes that would impact people negatively. They contribute a voice completely for the student populous and want to stand up for the minorities including the handicapped and LGBTQ+ community to move towards a more productive and happier environment on campus.

Off-Campus and Commuter Ward:

Nicc Manning

Changes they hope to make: He was the sophomore senator last year and it was more of an experimental approach while also participating in Common Space Wellness. He is looking forward to making more changes in that area. He wants to be a voice for others when it intertwines with their scheduling because he understands the day-to-day life gets rough.

What they contribute to the SGA: He is able to be the voice that says things that need to be said directly and assert conflicts. For USAO students, he is always supporting others and looking to help out the community.

Business and Social Sciences Ward:

Bresly Duarte Rivas

Changes they hope to make: She wants to make the social and behavioral labs in Davis cozier by replacing the chairs there. She would also like to introduce a stress relief room that would be a safe space for students to go and destress.

What they contribute to the SGA: She can provide a new, more inclusive perspective and bring in more creativity.

Science and Physical Education Ward:

Kelan Smith-Johnson

Changes they hope to make: He wants to have a supportive and constructive influence and impact on the school, getting everyone physically educated and active.

What they contribute to the SGA: Wants to make a positive impact, including kindness and influence that can make the right changes around campus.