FSU Panama City’s Student Government Council went straight to work the first week of spring classes, welcoming five new members during its first meeting of the semester.

The new members sworn in Jan. 7 included:

• Jessica Kim, who will head the Scholarship and Awards Committee. Kim, a junior majoring in professional communication, earned her Associate of Arts degree at Northwest Florida State College. She hopes to work for Delta Airlines at the headquarters in Atlanta.
• Wiatt Lewis, who will head the Finance Committee. Lewis, a sophomore civil engineering major, lived in Lajes, Azores, and Portugal from 2001 to 2005. When he graduates, he wants to become an urban planner.
• Camerin Dixon, who will travel to the Tallahassee campus weekly to represent FSU Panama City in the Student Senate. Dixon was valedictorian from Poplar Springs High School and earned her associate’s degree from Chipola College with honors through dual enrollment. She is a junior at FSU Panama City.
• Alessandra Feria, who will head the Student Development and Wellness Committee. Feria is a freshman majoring in law enforcement intelligence and underwater crime scene investigation. After graduating in spring 2018, she hopes to work with Homeland Security or the FBI.
• Timothy Schrier, who will head the Elections Committee. Schrier is a senior in the professional communication program. He graduated from Gulf Coast State College with his associate’s degree in communication. After graduating this semester, he plans to pursue a career in teaching.

The council also welcomed back the following members from last semester:

• Mercedes Ardley-Madrid, who will continue leading the Special Events Committee. Ardley-Madrid is senior professional communication major. After continuing to the master’s communication program at FSU Panama City, she plans to attend law school and become an entertainment lawyer.
• Kenneth Ayers, who will continue serving as president of the council. Ayers is a junior in the electrical engineering program. He is a retired United States Air Force major and has attended the University of Colorado and Charleston South University.
• Alexandria Hall, who will serve as president pro tempore. Hall is a junior who will graduate in fall 2016 from the elementary education program. She plans to continue to the master’s education program at FSU Panama City then pursue a career in teaching.
• Crystal Figlinski, who will head the Programming Committee. Figlinski is a sophomore in the professional communications program. She plans to enroll in the master’s program after graduating in fall 2017.
• Brandon Harmon, who will continue leading the Publicity Committee. Harmon is a senior computer engineering major who plans to graduate in 2017. He plans to pursue a computer career in sports or gaming technology.
• Dominique Smith, who will continue leading the Historian Committee. Smith is a computer science major who will graduate in spring 2017. He plans to enter the workforce as a programmer.

During the meeting, the council also approved funds for students in the underwater crime scene investigation program to attend the Underwater Intervention conference from Feb. 22-25 in New Orleans.

SGC meets at 7:45 p.m. every other Thursday in the SGC Conference Room, Barron 305. The next meeting will be Jan. 21.

The goal of SGC is to provide representation to FSU Panama City students within the university structure as well as to serve as a liaison between the student body and administration. The council is also the governing body of Activity and Service fees, which are collected along with student tuition, manages the allocation of funds to students and registered student organizations. Representatives are elected by the student body.

“For the SGC to be effective, we need participation by everyone attending our university,” Ayers said.

Students may attend meetings or get information from Ayers or any SGC representative.

For more information on SGC or registered student organizations, call 850-770-2190.