More than 25 years of student government reunited on Saturday to celebrate the dedication of the Student Government Association President’s Meeting Room.
SGA President Jay Perry pledged to the eight former SGA presidents in attendance, “I pledge to continue the legacy of leadership that you have all begun, as we continue to build this organization for the future.”
During the dedication, Mary Bruemmer, former dean of students and current university voluenteer spoke about the SGA she has seen grow and strengthen over the years.
“[SGA is] training leaders for the community, as it always has,” Bruemmer said.
Bruemmer highlighted some of the changes that have occurred over the 28-year history of SGA.
“Instead of meeting as we had before, they now have very formal meetings where they write bills and pass legislation,” Bruemmer said.
She concluded her speech by saying, “It’s not a perfect system, but it’s a beginning.”
The dedication of the room was performed by Vice President of Student Development Kathy Humphrey.
To the gathered SGA presidents she said, “This will be our way of remembering your contributions to the University.”
In his speech, Perry said, “May this room itself serve as testimony to your efforts, your devotion and your legacies. And may it continue to be filled with the added faces of future leaders, who like us here today, will strive to make their dreams and those of their fellow students, a reality for future generations still to come.”
The 1975-76 SGA President, Jim Fosters, noted, “The key to the success of the SGA is that it has been campus-wide-providing for both individuals and groups.”
Another former president Ray Wagner, 1981-82, explained that while issues change and the campus grows, most things stay the same throughout the years.
“The thing I learned in life and SGA is that you have to deal with a diversity of people with a variety of interests,” said 1980-81 SGA President Frank Armor.
Included in his speech, Perry announced the creation of the Student Government Association Leadership Scholarship Endow-ment, which will allow SGA to recognize one outstanding leader annually with a $5,000 scholarship.
The scholarship will be open to all students maintaining a 3.0 GPA and exhibiting leadership on campus. It will only be applicable to SLU tuition. A committee of students at large will choose the recipient, but the SGA senate must approve it.
Funding for the endowment will come from corporate donations and internal contract revenues, such as the freshmen facebook.
In addition, SGA will be putting in a “nest-egg” of $1,000 to start the endowment.
“There will be a scholarship awarded this year,” said Perry.
