This Monday, Saint Mary’s College will be holding student body elections. These four fantastic women are some of Saint Mary’s finest and have SMC’s best interest at heart! Finding out a little bit more about who they are is a great way to be sure you are voting for the best possible duo!
Nicole O’Toole and Marissa Pie:
Nicole:
1) Where is she from? Downers Grove, IL
2) Why did she choose Saint Mary’s? I fell in love with it the first time I visited after a week at Notre Dame tennis camp in 2005. My coach was a Saint Mary’s student and I fell in love with SMC’s beauty!
3) What is her major? Political Science
4) What is her favorite color? Purple
5) What is her favorite animal? I’d have to say my Yorkie-Poo, my annoyingly hyper puppy is a Yorkie-Poo and I could not live without her!
6) Where is her favorite spot on campus? LeMans Chapel – without a doubt. I live five doors down and sometimes I like to just go and sit in there. It is so peaceful and beautiful!
7) What is her favorite campus activity? Single event is probably Dance Marathon. I have so much respect for the girls whos pend all year planning it because I know how tough planning a huge event like that can be. And it raises money for childen, to boot! Bringing the campus together in such a fun enviornment for a philanthropic goal. So. Cool.
8) Why is she running for the senate? I am running for Student Body President because I think I have some terrific ideas and can really embody man of the ideas and concerns of the student body.
9) What does she think is the most important thing for people to know about SMC? Saint Mary’s students should know that I will put my heart and soul into this job. I am running for YOU, Saint Mary’s. Contact me anytime with concerns or ideas you have and they will be heard!
10) Why should Belles vote for her? My dedication, experience, and innovation sets me apart. I will work dilligently to accomplish the goals Marissa (my Vice President) and I have set. I LOVE Saint Mary’s!
Marissa:
1) Where is she from? I am from Chesterfield, NJ. It’s a small, farm-ish town right in the middle of the state, around the Trenton area! I am a proud Jersey girl!
2) Why did she choose Saint Mary’s? Truthfully, Saint Mary’s was not my first choice in schools. However, I feel that SMC chose me and I could not be more thankful that I ended up on The Avenue! Some of my family members attended Notre Dame and I had always come out to games as a little kid. I sent an application to Saint Mary’s “just because” and come decision time, it presented the best options for me. I love the small class sizes, study abroad programs, old-style dorms, and I believe that single-sex education has been one of the best things that has ever happened to me! If you had high-school me that statement, I probably would have laughed. But I honestly feel like i have found my voice as a woman and true sense of confidence since being at Saint Mary’s that no other institution would have been able to provide me.
3) What is her major? Buisness Administration with a Marketing and Finance concentration with a Spanish minor.
4) What is her favorite color? I love turquoise blue!
5) What is her favorite animal? I would have to say a dog! Sadly, I have never been able to call one my own, even though I ask Santa for one every year! How depressing!!
6) Where is her favorite spot on campus? My favorite spot on campus is a toss up between Reignbeaux lounge in LeMans and Spes Unica. I love Reignbeaux because there are always people meandering in and out, plus it is just an innately beautiful space. But I love Spes, as well!!! Being a buisness major, most of my classes are in Spes. I love comfy chairs, high-tech classrooms, and individual study rooms. Those study rooms are like gold! Plus they just got Starbucks coffee in the cafe…amazing.
7) What is her favorite campus activity? My favorite activity on campus is honestly sitting around with my friends and talking. Whether it be in the dining hall (where we often stay until 8 p.m.) or in someone’s dorm, just hanging around has lead me to meet some of the most incredible girls in the entire world and I am so blessed to have them all here at school with me!
8) Why is she running for the senate? I am running for Student Vice President for several reasons. One being that I LOVE this place and feel like it would truly be an honor to be in such an esteemed leadership position. I have never been one to watch from the wings, so I got involved with Student Government Association and it has really enhanced my Saint Mary’s experience. I love being a catalyst for positive change on campus, and want to take on more responsibility!
9) What does she think is the most important thing for people to know about SMC? This is a really tough question…if a first year were to ask me this question, I would tell them that the most important thing to know about SMC is that your experience as a Belle is not the typical college experience. It goes far beyond that. It was very hard for me to understand this as a first year, and I was constantly comparing my college life to my friends’ at big state schools back on the east coast. The friendships we make here and even the relationships with girls who we don’t even knoware the kind of things that give me the chills. If I were to answer this question to a non first-year, I would say that it is most important to to take advantage of the hundreds of amazing opportunities afforded to us on such a small campus. Study abroad, take a weird class, make friends with someone you think you have NOTHING in common with. This is the most amazing place in the world!!!
10) Why should Belles vote for her? People should vote for Nicole and I not only becasue we hae the relevant experience necessary to assume these positions, but becasue we have some great innovative ideas that we are ready to turn into action. Nicole and I are both very approachable, therefore we can really act like liaisons between the student body and the administration. And (if you haven’t noticed by now) we LOVE Saint Mary’s and will really do anything to make this an even more incredible place than it already is!
McKenna Schuster and Sam Moorehead:
McKenna:
1) Where is she from? Denville, NJ (that’s not the Jersey Shore)
2) Why did she choose Saint Mary’s? I chose Saint Mary’s because of the strong connection my family had with the College and that always made me feel like I was right at home. The girls here have become my family, so I guess that feeling was right!
3) What is her major? Buisness administration with a concentration in marketing
4) What is her favorite color? Purple! (but I’m loving that minty color on clothes and accessories!)
5) What is her favorite animal? Bulldog puppies!
6) Where is her favorite spot on campus? I’m most likely to be found either in the Student Governmnent Office on the second floor of the Student Center, or on the couches of the buisness department (the couches are so comfortable and it gets the best sunlight! I love watching people walk by.)
7) What is her favorite campus activity? My favorite activity on campus would actually have to be all of the activties that are part of “Love Your Body Week.” That whole week embodies something trul special and promotes a healthy body image which is so crucial to emphasize, especially at an all women’s college. Sam did a great job planning and running it this year.
8) Why is she running for the senate? I am running for senate because I know how much of an impact SGA has on such a small school like Saint Mary’s. Student Government has become my family and I love working with all the student leaders on campus. I have been involved since freshman year and have a running list of so many ideas to help improve Saint Mary’s and make it the best four years for every girl that attends here!
9) What does she think is the most important thing for people to know about SMC? For people that go here, it is that there is always a way to get involved and meet and become friends with all the different types of people! It is never too late to join a new club, take an interesting class, participate in a campus event, or become a student leader! At a small school like Saint Mary’s, there are so many opportunities! In turn, for people that don’t go here, I would want people to know that Saint Mary’s is like one giant sisterhood where girls come to grow as individuals, stand out as leaders, and make the best friends of their life.
10) Why should Belles vote for her? Belles should vote for me because of my first-hand experience in Student Government, especially on the executive board. Because of this unique role, I know what it takes to accomplish the goals and wishes set out by the student body and not make empty promises. I have so many great ideas for the student body and Sam and I work as a great team with honor and integrity. We know what it takes, and we will do anything for the student body!
Sam:
1) Where is she from? Atlanta, Georgia.
2) Why did she choose Saint Mary’s? I chose Saint Mary’s because I thought that I would really benefit from a smaller school education. I thought campus was beautiful and I was confident that it was in an enviornment in which I could succeed.
3) What is her major? I am a Chemistry major with a concentration in Biochemistry.
4) What is her favorite color? Blue!
5) What is her favorite animal? Giraffe!
6) Where is her favorite spot on campus? I am most likely to be found in the science hall.
7) What is her favorite campus activity? My favorite activity is not just one activity, but the entire week of events that makes up “Love Your Body Week.”
8) Why is she running for the senate? I am running for Student Body Vice President because I absolutely love Saint Mary’s. I have loved being involved in Student Government for the past two years and working to plan events for the Student Body. Student Government is something that I’m passionate about and enjoy doing because I care so much for the women at Saint Mary’s.
9) What does she think is the most important thing for people to know about SMC? I think that it is most important that people know that Saint Mary’s is an enviornment in which women are challenged to become confident members of the society. Saint Mary’s women make a difference in each other’s lives and impact the greater community.
10) Why should Belles vote for her? Belles should vote for McKenna and I because we will work to improve upon the existing policies within the Student Government and the entire campus community in addition to creating new initiatives. We are so excited to promote greater communication on campus, more student involved events, and promote a greater sense of sisterhood.
Don’t forget to log-on to OrgSync this Monday to vote!! May the odds be ever in your favor, ladies! You are ALL fabulous candidates!
Click on the link below to access the voting page!
https://orgsync.com/81385/forms/99110
Photos provided by the author