Ramses Ovalles has been sworn in as the Executive Rules Committee (ERC) vice president of finance of the Shippensburg University Student Government Association (SGA) for the 2019-2020 academic year.
Ovalles previously served in SGA as a senator for the office of Multicultural Student Affairs (MSA).
Originally from the Bronx in New York City, Ovalles came to Shippensburg simply because he “liked it.”
However, he stayed because of the various opportunities for campus involvement. He credits Diane Jefferson, director of the MSA office for keeping him at SU. Ovalles enjoys the community of the campus and all the friends he has made along the way.
Ovalles’ activities include involvement in the Latino Student Organization, B.R.O.T.H.E.R.S, Building Bridges and the Homecoming committee.
He is also a student worker at the First Year Experience and Community Engagement Office and is Chair of the Diversity and Cultural Affairs Committee and sits on the Budget and Finance and Student Groups Committees.
“I don’t sleep,” Ovalles said with a smile after listing all of his campus activities.
He does all of this while staying on top of his work as a political science major with a minor in international studies.
One of Ovalles’ favorite aspects of participating in SGA is the ability to help his peers through his involvement. “You are able to know the ins and outs of how things happen,” said Ovalles.
Ovalles’ goals for next year including making the budget and finance committee more progressive.
But most importantly, he wants to remain present for the students. “I want to continue to advocate for student groups,” he said.
Ovalles would also like to look into creating a campaign where students can use their IDs and flex dollars at off -campus locations.
As vice president of finance, Ovalles will also serve as the chairperson of the budget and finance committee, which manages $4 million including the student activity fees collected every semester. He will also sit on various committees.
“I knew I wanted to be treasurer since Day 1. You can see the impact of it,” said Ovalles.
He wants students to be aware of how important SGA is to the student body. “SGA makes a lot of the important decisions that impact students on a daily basis,” said Ovalles.
After finishing college, Ovalles would like to attend law school.
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