Katherine Twombly ‘30
Staff Writer
The results for this year’s Student Government elections were released on Wednesday, Sept. 20. For the Class of 2027, the President is Fiona Gawne, the Vice President is Dominika Chmielewski, and the Senator is Will Woodruff. The Class of 2028 Treasurer is Noah Smith, and the Senator is Matt Hollatz. The Senator-at-Large is sophomore Thomas Quinn. These positions make up a significant portion of the Student Government Association (SGA) and are important to the entire community, as they are largely responsible for making sure that all student voices are heard. Class Presidents are particularly influential because of their more specialized position that works toward creating a united class environment for first-year and senior students.
When asked about what motivated her to run for this position, Fiona Gawne responded by saying, “I’m motivated by a love for this school and a desire to make mine and my classmates’ time here as best as it can be…and continuing to improve the class of 2027’s experience on the Hill.” Given that the class of 2027 will be graduating, creating a positive experience for them during their last year is especially important. Adding to this message with a greater focus on the community as a whole, Gawne states, “I want Holy Cross to be a place where everyone is proud to go and feels a strong sense of community.” This sense of community is at the heart of everything the SGA does for students at Holy Cross across all positions. The leadership of the upperclassmen also helps set the tone for the coming years, and their guidance is immensely helpful to the newly elected members of the first-year class.
The results for the Class of 2030 are as follows: President Stephen Colwell, Vice President Grace Jean, Secretary Mariana Builes Garcia, Treasurer Nicholas Polymeros, and Senators Mason Beaudoin and James Condon. These elected officials are instrumental in providing a positive experience for new members of the Holy Cross community and creating a sense of unity and a supportive culture that will endure for the next four years. Roles in SGA for first-year students help make sure that this new class feels included in the larger community, as well as fostering unity within the class itself. The numerous roles also help make sure that there is not one singular voice speaking for the class and that a variety of different perspectives are being shared.
Adding to this idea, Class of 2030 President Stephen Colwell shared his motivation for running for this position: “I wanted to make sure every member of the Class of 2030 feels like they have a voice and someone they can come to with their ideas or concerns.” This statement was supported by Colwell’s goal during the campaign to speak to many members of his class personally, and he states that “those conversations really shaped what I want this presidency to look like.” In addition, Colwell received 63% of the vote, but in the spirit of unity, he chose to comment on how he feels this will affect his presidency by saying, “I’m extremely grateful for the trust my classmates placed in me, but I also see that result as a responsibility.” The concept of responsibility is powerful because it implies that delivering for the community is the most important part of this role, rather than any personal benefits. These statements closely align with the three main promises Colwell made throughout his campaign, which were “communication, accountability, and community.” Overall, these values will contribute to continuing the positive student atmosphere present at Holy Cross and help sustain this in the coming years.
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