West Virginia University has new student leaders following the announcement of the 2013 Student Government Association election on Thursday (Feb. 28).

Ryan Campione, a senior industrial engineering major from Morgantown, was elected president. Benjamin Seebaugh, a senior political science, international studies and women and gender studies major from Parkersburg, was named vice president. Both led the Revolution Party, which was elected to every position, defeating THE (Trusted, Hardworking, Experienced) Party.

“It’s extremely humbling, because Ben and I have spent so many years in student government. It’s such a great feeling to know that students bought into our message and believe in us,” Campione said.

Campione and Seebaugh said their first initiatives will be improving SGA transparency by adding a visible budget and aiding students in unforeseen problems by providing the possibility to deal with those problems without affecting their semester.

A total of 4,289 students – or more than 15 percent of the student body – voted in the election, which was held at the Mountainlair, the Student Recreation Center and three other rotating locations for the last three days. That was 1,608 more students than in the 2012 election.

“I’m extremely grateful for everyone who voted,” Campione said. “Both parties put in a lot of hard work and a lot of effort, and it shows in the turnout.”

The board consists of a president, vice president, a board of 15 governors and two athletic councilors. All elections results from Thursday (Feb. 28) will be certified by the SGA Judicial Board on Friday (March 1).

Those elected on Thursday (Feb. 28) will take over following an inauguration in March at which point they will take over for the current administration.

Students elected to the SGA board of governors in order of votes received: Jake Evans, a junior political science major from Martinsburg; Spenser Wempe, a sophomore international studies and Chinese studies major from Harpers Ferry; Morgan Riddle, a sophomore international studies, Russian and French major from Ripley; Anthony Braxton, a freshman philosophy major from South Charleston; Stephen Scott, a freshman political science major from Shepherdstown; George Capel, a sophomore political science major from Parkersburg; John Williams, a junior political science major from Morgantown; Adam Carte, a junior biochemistry major from Hico; Renzo Diaz, a freshman engineering major form Charles Town; Chris Nyden, a junior economics major from Charleston; Joy Wang, a freshman biochemistry major from Charleston; Katie Heller, a junior public relations major from Saint Marys; Evan McIntyre, a freshman industrial engineering major from Cumberland, Md.; Blaine Blankenship, a sophomore secondary math education major from Beckley; and Afsheen Misaghi, a freshman theatre and chemistry major from Charleston.

Students elected to the SGA athletic council in order of votes received: Ashley Morgan, a sophomore sport and exercise psychology major from Hillard, Ohio; and Dillon Tucker, a junior finance major from Scott Depot.

To learn more about SGA, visit http://sga.wvu.edu/.

-WVU-

td/02/28/13

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