With many events still to be held this school year, Student Activities Board members recently made major decisions, including voting for president and vice president during their elections meeting March 28.

Next year’s president will be junior nursing major Annalise Cardish. Cardish’s goal as president is to work more with organizations and students within the university to reach their goal of establishing both a high volume and high quality of events.

“For SAB next year, I would really like to see more collaboration across the campus,” Cardish said. “Whether that is with individual students or collaborating more with the other organizations and clubs on campus, I really just want to be able to bring a unified front and help put on effective programming for our whole student body.”

Next year’s vice president, sophomore forensic biology major Danielle Trevino, also intends to use her leadership to push SAB to extend onto campus and work with other campus organizations.

“I’m hoping that we will be able to work with more clubs and interact with each other just so we can have a stronger student body,” Trevino said.

While a new group of leaders was selected, current SAB president and senior nursing major Mary Beth Cocchi reflected on her time as president and the bonds she’s been able to make.

“Being president has been a really cool opportunity,” Cocchi said. “Because I’ve gotten to meet a lot of underclassmen that have gotten involved and also work very closely with [Associate Dean of Students] Pat Bristor, which has been a really cool experience because she has really influenced me and the person I’m becoming.”

A four-year member of SAB, Cocchi highlighted growth as the main theme of her time with the organization.

“Being a member of SAB since my freshman year, coming to the first meeting and being involved ever since it’s just been so cool to see how I’ve grown within the club and just in general how the club itself has grown,” she said.

Cocchi and other seniors have paved the way for underclassmen to take leadership roles within the board. Jazmin Booker, freshman nursing major and next year’s Music and Entertainment committee chair, had a positive experience working with SAB this year and is looking forward to the future.

“I have really enjoyed [SAB],” Booker said. “It opened my eyes to see a lot of stuff that happens behind the scenes.”

Booker, with a background in music, is ready to bring fresh ideas to her committee next year.

“Music has always been a huge part of my life. I was in band for five years and absolutely adored it,” Booker said. “I’m currently in the choir,  so it’s perfect for me and I’m excited to maybe try some new events out, bring in new artists we’ve never heard before and maybe get feedback from students.”

While new leaders have been selected for next year, the SAB calendar for 2018-19 is far from finished.

Though Cardish has already begun to outline her specific goals for her term, Cocchi still is in the midst of planning as she completes her senior year and presidency in the club.

After four years of involvement, Cocchi reflects on the impact the organization has made on her.

After overseeing, organizing and participating in dozens of events over her four years, Cocchi prepares to say goodbye.

SAB gave Cocchi an outlet to make new relationships, find herself as a leader and provide students the opportunity to enjoy campus events.

“It’s definitely been one of the most formative experiences I’ve had at Waynesburg,” Cocchi said.