Meet Your 2024-2025 SGA
(left to right: Caleb Celeste, Christian Nazaire, Mudiwa Mawema, and Maryam Abdurrahman)
On a late Friday afternoon, Howard Community College's (HCC) Student Government Association (SGA) was meeting to plan for the 2024 Fall semester. They sat together in a circle, optimistically reviewing a busy calendar of events filled with color-coded sticky notes. Learn who they are, what their goals are, and why they care so much about creating an impact among HCC students.
What are you studying at HCC?
Mudiwa Mawema, SGA President: I'm studying general studies and STEM, focusing on computer science. My courses will transfer to the information sciences program at the University of Maryland, College Park (UMD).
Christian Nazaire, SGA Vice President: I am in the Department of Social Sciences, focusing on history. After leaving HCC, I hope to major in the classics and attend law school.
Maryam Abdurrahman, SGA Club Liaison: I am studying liberal arts and focusing on languages. I am thinking about studying diplomacy.
Caleb Celeste, SGA Secretary: I am studying mechanical engineering. I will transfer to the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), to study automotive design.
What do you like most about HCC?
Maryam: Where do I start? HCC is a beautiful place. Everyone has a community spirit. People are smiling and laughing on this campus. I have been to other colleges, and HCC felt the most welcoming.
What inspired you to run for SGA?
Mudiwa: I never really thought about running for SGA when I first got here. However, I was very engaged in my community, school, city, and country in South Africa. When I came here, I wanted to focus on studying, but after spending a lot of time speaking with the faculty and staff, I had to get involved.
Christian: Like Mudiwa, I was not planning to run until he approached me. As I became more involved in school and clubs, I started interacting with HCC staff and student life. It was an environment I wanted to be a part of, and Mudiwa seemed like a man of conviction who wanted to have an impact on the school and students.
What are some of your goals in your SGA leadership position?
Mudiwa: We will not rely solely on social media to connect with students. Instead, we will walk around campus and hand out fliers to promote events, speaking to them individually so they know our faces, attend more events and share their feedback.
How will you measure success?
Christian: There are qualitative and quantitative ways to gather information on how many students attend events or participate in clubs. However, the qualitative way of just striking up a conversation with someone you are not familiar with and asking them what they think is more effective.
What are you most looking forward to this semester/year?
Caleb: I am most looking forward to touching lives and making an impact. People here will know that there are students in the SGA who see them and will listen to them.
What do you anticipate will be the most exciting part of your role?
Maryam: We have meetings, plans and goals. I look forward to seeing how that all pans out over the course of the school year and the impact we actually have on people. That is the most exciting part of being in student life, regardless of your position. You will always have an impact and see that impact, which is a really good feeling.
Is there anything else you'd like to tell the student body?
Caleb: Why not me? I want students to ask themselves, “Why not me?” Why am I not participating in this event? When you enter a classroom, ask yourself why can’t I be the top student? When you try to make a friend, why can’t I make a friend? What’s stopping you? Pretty soon, you will realize nothing is stopping you.
HCC students: Connect with your SGA at SGA@howardcc.edu or follow @HCCStudentLife!