Capital District Educational Opportunity Center Launches Inaugural Student Government Association

July 2, 2025

The Capital District Educational Opportunity Center (EOC), a division of Hudson Valley Community College, recently announced the formation of its first Student Government Association (SGA). EOC leadership and its students hope this platform will promote and empower participants to develop communication and leadership skills that will lead to a more vibrant and inclusive EOC community.

In early 2025, the SGA’s inaugural members - comprised of representatives from each of EOC’s career and technical education and academic programs - met with Interim Executive Director Alton Campbell and Assistant Director Jennifer Cook to learn about the fundamentals of student representation and how to effectively bring forth ideas and concerns shared by their fellow students.

SGA President Kayla Smith reflected on the impact of these early meetings. “I think SGA definitely brought out leadership skills in some people that they didn’t even know they had,” Smith said. “It was really cool to see that blossom in them, and I think it also gave the students the right people to go to with their concerns, knowing that their voices would be heard.”

The mission of the SGA is to foster a strong sense of belonging among EOC students while promoting academic achievement, personal growth and social collaboration. To accomplish this, the SGA facilitates open channels of communication between students and administrators, advocates for student needs, and partners with staff to identify and address areas for growth.

Their efforts hope to ensure that the EOC continues to evolve in ways that reflect student input, helping to create a more connected, responsive and student-centered environment. Members of the SGA also support their peers by creating opportunities for students to socialize with and learn from fellow EOC students enrolled in different programs, fostering a greater appreciation for the diverse array of educational opportunities offered by the EOC and its equally diverse community of learners.

Here are just a few of the student engagement activities SGA board members have initiated so far:

• Created a cork board in the student lounge with their photos, names, program of study, and their SGA membership roles
• Set up a table outside of SPOONS student cafeteria to introduce themselves to fellow students and describe their advocacy roles on behalf of their fellow students
• Recommended the purchase of some popular board games including chess, checkers, dominoes, and others to be kept in the student lounge and engaged fellow students to play
• Initiated several new activities for the annual student celebration including the addition of a cornhole set and a decorating station for graduation caps
• Collaborated with fellow students and faculty to perform a line dance during the event and proposed the creation of a yearbook for the next school year

Through active involvement in the SGA, students have the opportunity to voice their ideas, concerns and aspirations, ensuring that their experiences contribute to shaping the future of the entire EOC student journey, from inquiry and enrollment to commencement. SGA Vice President Rory Culpepper shared, “It feels good to be a member of the SGA. I love the engagement; I love the different kinds of ideas and opportunities that we’re allowed to come up with for the students to get more engaged and more interactive with each other.”

The founding members of the EOC SGA have shown dedication, leadership and a commitment to advocacy. The staff, faculty and administration of the EOC encourage all students to become involved, share their voices, support their peers, and contribute to building a stronger EOC community where every student is valued, every idea matters, and every voice is heard.

Inaugural SGA members:

• Hunter Weiber, Building Trades
• Ja’Niece Mitchell, Medical Office Administration
• Joseph Manwaring, Culinary Arts
• Rory Culpepper, Welding
• Kayla Smith, Cosmetology
• Sorida Brown, Phlebotomy
• Jodian Carsten, Academics