2022-23 Associated Students of MHCC Elections Candidates

Note from the Editor: The following candidate biographies were prepared by the ASMHCC candidates themselves and are published here as they were provided to the Advocate. 

Cheyenne Winchell

I, Cheyenne Winchell, am running for Student Body President. As someone who has held leadership positions in both academic and workplace environments, I will use my experience and communication skills to support, advocate and empower the students at Mt. Hood community college. During my time as President, I will work towards bringing opportunities to our campus that allow students to feel prepared for their future and set up for success. I believe as a leader; I will bring creative solutions that have the student’s perspective at the forefront of my decision making. I will work towards making our students genuinely feel as though every voice matters, and our diversity is celebrated.

Sory Ibrahim Diarra

Hello fellow students of MHCC I am Sory Ibrahim Diarra and I am running for ASG President.

Right now, I am the Academic Affairs Representative of ASMHCC; you have probably met me at the Students Union, where our office is. I am always playing pool or having conversations with students. I have worked as a teacher assistant and customer service in the past so I have some leadership experience. My most qualifying experience is I have been president for my class multiple times back in Mali and in case I have not told you before I am from Mali (West Africa).

As students, not to assume we all have the same goals but at least, one we all want to graduate from here and two we all want to graduate with the best experience possible. With that said, my most important goal is to do my best to assure that and to ease students’ stress and worries. I know I cannot make everyone happy but at last, I will do my best so most of you will be. With me as President any ideas, opinions and concerns are welcome and I will organize events and group talk so we can have fun and forget about everything else for at least a couple of hours. Moreover, I will do my best to find help you need.

To me we are all family no matter where you came from or your culture or background because even in our normal family at home, we are not all the same, there are diversities but the one important thing we all have in common is advancement of the family as our common interest in MHCC is success. I am from a different background so believe me when I say I know what it is to be different but that is what makes us human beings. There is a saying this saying that I love “Prejudices or discrimination reflects on the person judging and not the person being judged. Everyone should be treated equally”. I also believe what you give is what you receive so respect others and they will respect you. Let all be honest and confident about ourselves, so others will feel the same.

Javier Estrada

Hello One and All. My name is Javi Estrada. I declare my candidacy for the role of ASMHCC Vice President.

At my previous institution, I was the member of an Elite Squad known as the Student Ambassadors at Cedar Valley College. We were the bridge between prospective students, our college campus, and beyond. Also, at the University of Dallas, I served as the Freshman class representative for my dorm, Greg Hall. I worked alongside Student Government leaders who were fellow freshman, sophomores, juniors, and seniors; we worked together to provide resources for students on campus so that they could succeed and so that they could feel welcome. Also, I have 12 years of life experience, living without a mother.

When I was 17, my mom passed of a brain aneurysm. I promised her that I would live my life to the fullest and make her proud. I believe that I am doing so. The first 3 years after she passes, I was in a state of immense grief. But as time passed, I recognized that I had to pick myself up, and I had to become a go-getter. So as the years went by, I decided to pursue the study of music.

In 5 years’ time, I earned 3 degrees in music. I am classically trained as an operatic tenor, with a degree in classical vocal performance. I also have two degrees in music industry studies. It is because of these real-life experiences that I know I am qualified to serve as Vice President: I am resilient, I am knowledgeable, I am compassionate, and I am accomplished.

If I am elected as VP, I have three definite goals in mind:

1) I will help provide food and drinks to students by working alongside the Basic Life Skills department, Barney’s Pantry, the Oregon Food Bank, and the NE Emergency Food Program.

2) I will work closely with the MHCC Department of Equity & Inclusion, the Administrators at MHCC, and MHCC students at large in order to find a viable solution to the current situation: the old bookstore space (Rm. 1261) is currently vacant and in need of a new occupant; I propose we convert the space into a food-court style cafeteria that includes 3-5 food options, a coffee shop, and a fresh produce market. It will be multicultural, inclusive, and another resource for students and faculty to keep themselves well-fed and nourished.

3) I will strive to help the Latino community by building bridges between their present-day situation, their wants and needs, and their future goals. The Basic Life Skills Department and ASMHCC will co-host seminars throughout this school year and the following school year so that non-English speakers can begin the intake process for ESL learning; thereafter, those wanting to pursue a degree or certificate can do so upon graduating from the ESL program. I plan to work alongside the President, the ASMHCC members, and the ASMHCC Coordinators to accomplish these goals and more goals for the 2022-2023 school year and beyond. I would like to end my speech with the following statement:

“We the Students of Mt. Hood Community College enter to learn. We get to know each other. We get to form life-long friendships. We get to experience new cultures, new languages, new energies, and we strive to be respectful, understanding, and compassionate towards are fellow man. And once, we graduate, we will go forth to serve our families, our community, and beyond!”

Thank you, Javi

Erick Solano

Hello fellow students of MHCC I am Erick A Solano and I’m running for Vice president.

You may have seen me around the student unions playing the piano or at events in my Blue tuxedo. I am currently the Legislative Affairs representative, which is a member of the student leaders of the school. You might have even seen me at the Gresham farmers market. I worked there on Saturdays until we closed in October. Maybe even on youtube but I doubt I have like no clout haha.

So aside from being a part of the school’s Student leaders I helped set up and break down a farmers market along with running the EBT transactions, I used to be the leader of a gaming group until covid happened, and things kind of faded. I was the lead guitarist of my jazz band and was voted MVP by the class so that was fun.

I think as a student who’s running for vice president one of my big goals is to change the perspective the school looks at students because I am a new college student. Covid had a big effect on all of us and we kinda went through 3 years of the bare minimum online teaching and a few google pages things are a little bit harder than expected, especially after 3 years of daily naps. I think the school is doing its best to meet the student’s needs and doing well at it, but I also think that it’s hard to know exactly what a student is thinking after 3 years of the pandemic shutdown. My goal specifically would be to increase the communications between students and the school to bring back the relationship and community that we had before because in college it shouldn’t feel like another year of summer school or buy new exciting experiences to learn about the career you are heading towards and make connections along the way and just have fun.

It’s a bit counterintuitive to come off from online school a bit but I think the school could be a lot more interactive on online platforms like social media, we could be hosting more small-time events to bring up interactions between students and make new traditions, maybe even some video game tournaments for fundraisers.

Moving forward with diversity and equity I have a neutral standpoint. I don’t mind nor care what everyone identifies as because I will treat you with the same level of respect I treat my friends. I want to look past what someone describes as social name tags and I treat everyone as a human being regardless. I think you shouldn’t need to feel like this school isn’t accepting or understanding because to me you are just a friend I haven’t met yet.

Advocate Staff