New Student Government Officers Up to the Task

The new president and vice president of Virginia Peninsula's Student Government Association couldn't be more different. What they have in common, though, is the goal of making the most out of the organization.

"My hope is that by the time I leave office, the SGA will be helping students and getting them to hit their respective goals and maybe even beyond," said new president Ken Sims, adding that starts with helping them find out what they want and setting them on the right path.

Natala Rodriguez, the new vice president, was an SGA senator last year and decided to run for a high officer so she could be of more help to students.

Sims, 29, was born in Portsmouth but as the son of a Navy officer has lived all over. He graduated from high school in Maryland and has lived in Yorktown since 2019. He enrolled in the College for the 2018-19 academic year as a general studies student. He switched to paralegal and then business administration. He's on track to graduate in December but might stay an extra semester to complete his term as SGA president.

"They are trying to convince me," he said. "I may, may, do it."

He has experience as a student ambassador but wanted to do more.

"This was one of those positions that I would be able to do that from," he said of the SGA presidency.

He's an active member in the community, having been involved with two non-profit organizations, one as director of activities and the other on its board of directors. In high school, he was part of SGA, captain of the debate team, and a two-term treasurer.

All that experience, especially the leadership aspects, he thinks will benefit him in his new role, which he views as having two parts.

"One would be to help the office of Student, Life and Leadership coordinate events and get people to come out," he said. "Other than that, I am the primary contact point for the students. My door is always open. I'm here from 8-5 every day."

That is important, too.

"It's sometimes easier for them to come up and talk to another student as opposed to an administrator, and the expected role of a mentor/teacher," he said.

In addition to being a student ambassador, he was involved in the College's sign language club and Phi Theta Kappa, an honor society for two-year institutions. He plans to transfer to William & Mary and wants to explore a career in politics.

Rodriguez, who turns 20 this year, has lived in Newport News most of her life. The Woodside High School graduate has been at Virginia Peninsula since spring 2021. She's studying health science and should be done May 2023.

In addition to supporting the SGA president, she views her role as bringing a welcoming and fun atmosphere to the College.

"I want to help out more with events, make events for all students to have fun and relax and have a break from studying," she said.

She, too, is a PTK member and a cheerleader. Her goal is to attend W&M and study kinesiology.