Jalyn Howard and Kendrick Dawson are two young men with a vision for this university that promotes growth and positive change in all areas. They are running to become the SGA President and Vice President for the 2016-2017 school year.
Jalyn Howard-President Kendrick Dawson-VP
Major: Health Care Management Major: Rick Management & Insurance
Class Standing: Third Year Class Standing: Third Year
Hometown: Chapel Hill, NC Hometown: Greenville, NC
Early last year Kendrick and Jalyn met in the dining hall, while planning the Suicide Prevention Event, and ever since the two have been dreaming of how they, together, could make this campus a better place.
Jalyn and Kendrick stay busy and present on the Appalachian campus. The two serve on the Chancellor’s advisory board, working to recruit and retain minority students. They are both part of the Leadership Educators, a position that allows them to speak to different students, clubs, and organizations to demonstrate how they can further enhance their own leadership abilities. Separately, Jalyn was elected president of Tau Sigma (National Transfer Students Honor Society), and serves as a transfer mentor. Kendrick serves as an R.A. for University Housing, and is a Student Orientation Undergraduate Leader (SOUL). Also being members of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity and currently part of the SGA cabinet, the two are no strangers to working together and that is something that separates them from other tickets. Not only do they share many common memberships, but they are just as good of friends.
The two decided to run because they have seen how things operate behind the scenes, and they haven’t always been happy with it. “Once I started learning about the issues and, being a student, seeing the lack of transparency between how the administration dealt with those issues is when I knew something needed to change,” Kendrick said. “Sometimes the negative issues are hard to talk about, but regardless, students have a right to know what is going on with their university.”
The Howard Dawson ticket is one that focuses around the students. “With a lack of diversity on the campus and in SGA I know there is a large population of students that are underrepresented” Jalyn said. “Every student has a voice that deserves to be heard, and that is what our campaign is about. We will be the ones to fight for those voices.” Tuition and fees is another pillar of their platform. “I could talk about fees alone for 20 minutes,” Kendrick said, “but in simple terms, there is an issue with where some funds are being allocated and some places that are not being prioritized and could use more funding and attention [i.e. The Counseling Center and Health Services].”
While they have an impressive resume that is not why they feel they should have your vote. It is, however, because they have no problem challenging administration on issues and advocating for students to make sure they are put first. Also, they have been leaders, they are leaders, and they have advocated and fought for the underrepresented population. They put their money where their mouth is.
Jalyn and Kendrick are willing to talk with you and listen to you; they want to hear what you have to say!
“Our platform is geared toward sustainability,”they said, “but that doesn’t just mean recycling. We will focus on environmental sustainability, social sustainability and economic sustainability. All the issues will fall under one of those umbrellas, and we plan to address those issues head on.”
The Howard-Dawson ticket would be the first all minority ticket, and Jalyn Howard would be Appalachians’ first transfer student to become President.
“If we win we will be President and Vice President, but at the end of the day we are the microphone for the students. We will project their voice, that’s the voice that will be magnified.”
The HOWARD-DAWSON ticket is one of three that students have the opportunity to vote for. Voting is open until March 23 at sga.appstate.edu/vote
Check out their video and like their Fabecook page below. Follow their social media sites at howarddawson_2016