Names: Cooper Kinsey & Michelle Kellett
Hometowns: Cooper- Charlotte, NC
Michelle- Shelton, CT
Years: Juniors
Majors: Cooper- Journalism
Michelle: Double major in Communications with a concentration in Public Relations and Political Science
SGA Running Ticket: Ticket Number 1
HC: How did you both meet?
We sat next to each other at freshman orientation and have been friends ever since.
HC: Can we follow your platform on social media? If so, where?
Facebook; ECU Ticket 1
Twitter; @SGA_TicketONE1
Instagram; ecu_ticketone1
HC: What made you want to run for President/Vice President?
Michelle: When I was touring ECU as a high school senior, I noticed the campaigning on campus and asked my tour guide what it was all about. Ever since that day, I’ve always known that this was something I wanted to do in my time here. I feel like this university has given me so much and this is the best way I can give back.
Cooper: At first I wasn’t sure if I wanted to run, but I’ve been to many leadership conferences and workshops here at ECU and across the country and I want to translate what I have learned there to being President of the Student Body at ECU. I want to represent everyone and I want their voices to be heard as loud as others are on this campus.
HC: How long have you both been involved in the Student Government Association?
We both joined as freshman and went through the Shipmates program together and then went on to be representatives.
HC: What other positions have you held in the Student Government Association?
Michelle: I was director of community outreach as a sophomore and this year I am the director of first year programs. Last year I was also one of ECU’s representatives for the UNC Association of Student Governments.
Cooper: I’ve served in multiple committees from university affairs to local and state affairs where I have reached out with many university and public officals.
HC: What are your biggest accomplishments in your previous positions?
Michelle: I think the biggest things I’ve done is I’ve helped to pilot the 15,000 Pirates event the past two years and I’ve been really involved in helping other members of SGA to get their events going and be there when they need help volunteering or tabling.
Cooper: Like what Michelle said above, tabling and volunteering is something that I’ve done a lot of and enjoy doing for SGA. I’ve also spread awareness about 15,000 Pirates and helped in the various projects and initiatives that came from 15,000 Pirates.
HC: What do you love most about the Student Government Association?
Michelle: I love that there is so much opportunity of what can be done with SGA. We have the ability to truly take into consideration what the students of our university want done and make something happen. I also have made some of the greatest friendships and connections through being involved in SGA.
Cooper: I love how everyone gets along together and we all have the same goal to help benefit students and get work done. We are truly one big family that wants to make a difference in the Pirate Community and Greenville.
HC: Is there anything else you’re involved in on campus? If so, what?
Michelle: Being involved on campus is one of my favorite things about going to ECU. Aside from SGA, I am a sister of Phi Mu. I also had the privilege of serving as an Orientation Assistant in summer 2016 and I am a Pirate Navigator.
Cooper: I am a brother of Beta Theta Pi and currently I serve as the Vice President of the Inter-Fraternity Council at ECU. I also officiate intramural football, basketball, and volleyball.
HC: What inspired your platform?
Our platform was actually inspired by SGA’s three principles, Service, Governance and Advocacy. When coming up with what we wanted to do, we decided to take it back to the foundations SGA was built on. We also agreed that we want to take the needs of the students and put them at the forefront of SGA’s agenda.
HC: What do you hope to accomplish if you are elected into the positions of President and Vice President of the Student Government?
We are a service university and we want to bring the service back into SGA by having more initiatives that get SGA members out in the community volunteering. We also really want to improve the relationships between SGA and the ECU community by creating a portal that is open for students to express their ideas and concerns to SGA. We also want to create a system where the SGA representatives are all assigned organizations to be the liaisons between so that organizations on campus can get the most out of what SGA has to offer. We hope to bring back student discount cards too. We hope to work closely with the City of Greenville to keep the surrounding area of campus safe for students. On campus, we would like to work to increase the recycling options and help with incentives to recycle. We also want to expand the options or healthy pirate meals. Lastly, we want to form a strong relationship with the counseling center to continue to advocate for mental health on our campus as it is one of the biggest issues across universities nationwide.