The North Lake Campus Student Government Association chapter brought home several awards from their statewide conference.
The annual event was hosted by the Texas Junior College Student Government Association April 17-19 in Dallas. SGA chapters from colleges across Texas competed in different categories based on their work throughout the year, such as leadership, service and campus involvement.
North Lake SGA earned first place for Chapter of the Year, one of the highest honors at the conference. The award recognizes the overall work of the organization throughout the year.
Outgoing President Cristian Henriquez said the team spent months preparing their submissions. “It was something that we start from the beginning of the year,” he said.
To compete at the state level, chapters must first qualify at the regional level. North Lake competed against schools with much larger teams, he said.
Along with Chapter of the Year, North Lake SGA also received several other awards, including first place in essay, first and second place in song, second place and honorable mention in event of the year and third place in poem.
The group also earned a gold-level recognition for chapter excellence. Henriquez said the awards were not just the result of SGA members, but a team effort across campus.
North Lake also helped host the conference. SGA Vice President served as the host officer. As his term comes to an end, Henriquez said he hopes the next SGA team continues to be creative while still focusing on students.
“Advocating for students doesn’t have to be boring and scary. You can advocate for students many ways,” he said. “Whether it’s cleaning up campus or working with departments, you can still have fun while helping students.”
He also encouraged the next president to focus on their own leadership style. “Don’t think about the previous presidents. Think about you and what you can do.”
Henriquez emphasized the importance of connection on campus, encouraging students to step out of their comfort zones and build relationships.
He said these connections can not only support students in their work but also help create a stronger and more supportive campus community.
