On April 22, 2025 at 4:30 p.m., the Stockton Student Senate hosted their final meeting of the semester and academic year.

After their recent elections, 27 senators were newly elected for the 2025-2026 academic year, making the total 32 Senators combined, with a transition of power to President Ariel Graziano and Vice President Hunter Pico. Former President Andrea Sandoval will be graduating and continuing her studies at the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. Former Vice President, Vlad Vasylyk, shared words of wisdom to the upcoming members, “Take the effort to get to know each other […] I believe that we are a team.” 

With the spring semester coming to an end, graduating senior and current Government Affairs Chair, Garrett Testut, shared all of the accomplishments of the present board, who have passed 26 amendments, secured a three year grant of $3.1 million to distribute to aid student involvement and retention, where $6,000 were added for Cultural Month Celebrations. Board of Trustees Student Trustee, Najmah Laing, has been planning a proposal for an Islamic Studies Minor or Certificate Program, which if approved, will be established next spring. 

In addition to the organizational and club budget, all club leaders—in compliance with standards—were given budget decisions based on club history with spending, E-board activity, Stockton involvement, club mission, and how the spendings contribute to that mission. With updated budgets, the Senate opened the floor to public comments.

President of Mock Trial and member of Mexican Student Organization (M.E.X.S.A.) brought to the attention of the senators that, “Latinos have representation in our culture…..But because of their status as new clubs, they are not given as much budget as others” A motion to transfer was made from Senator and President of Los Latinos Unidos, Juan Diego Chaparro Villarreal, to remove $5,000 of L.L.U.’s budget and to redistribute amongst new Latino organizations available. Voting to pass this was 14 for, 8 against, and 8 abstentions. 

The meeting was concluded by swearing in the new members, consisting of: Aayushma Dhakal, Ahnjeles Maldonado, Alivia O’Neill, Ariel Graziano, Arti Kapoor, Austin Eckert, Casey Conklin, Christian Wright, Conor Wasneuski, Dominic Eisele, Edwin Ulises Feria-Serna (Eddie), Genesis Rodriguez, Guivenchiali Saint Jean, Hunter Pico, Jaala Howard, Jackson Heil, Jaedyn Thomson, Jesus Cabellos, Julia Kowal, Kaden Ryan, Lunasia Webb, Melanie Chin, Mia Torres, Najmah Laing, Nana Amma Otoo, Vlad Vasylyk, and Zippi Abramson.

Congratulations to graduating senators and the 2025-2026 incoming members, and to learn more about Stockton Student Senate, visit the link here.