During the first week of October, Jill Street and Amanda Walker were elected by Penn Valley students as their first representatives to administrators at MCC and Penn Valley. For the next year, Walker will represent to Penn Valley, and Street will represent Penn Valley students to the MCC District.

Walker and Street will be the voice of MCC-Penn Valley students. "Besides finding out the needs of the students, I get to go to the Chancellors' meetings and input the students’ needs, what they want, or their concerns," says Street.

"We'll have a meet-and-greet, Q and A meeting on November 2, starting at 11, on the midlevel dining area," says Walker. "I meet every Wednesday with the Leadership Committee, and I will take student concerns from one meeting to the other."

Asked what sparked their decisions to run for office, Street says, "I heard a lot of concerns from students, so when the office became open I decided to run. Since I like speaking out, I thought this would be a good opportunity for me to voice student opinions, because a lot of students are not so sure who they should talk to or if they will be listened to."

Walker agrees. "My goal is to bring together all the different groups that tend to separate on their own at Penn Valley. We want to bridge the gaps, put that diversity to work, and share a dream for better." Walker and Street both intend to make the most of their new positions. Walker says students can talk to her anytime, or email her at amina2227@yahoo.com.

Street says she is equally reachable."I want students to know that I’m here, not just at the Life and Leadership office but if you see me in the halls, stop me and let me know. I can take the issue into advisement and present it at the Chancellors' meeting or to Dr. Franklin, the school’s President."

She adds, "I also want to widen peoples’ eyes about people with disabilities, to treat us the same."

Students can connect with their student representatives at the Life and Leadership office on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 12-1pm. There will be a suggestion/complaint box inside the office where anyone can leave a message for either representative. The Life and Leadership office is located on the zero level of the Campus Center, at the northeast corner of the dining area.

"We want students to tell us what their needs are, so that we can address the issues," declare Street and Walker.

Copyright 2007 Metropolitan Community College