General Elections for the Wesley Student Council for the 2016-17 school year.

Montreal Martin

1. What is your favorite aspect of the Wesley Community and why? My favorite aspect of the Wesley Community is the variety of cultures that are represented within the community as a whole. In addition, I admire the numerous gifts, talents and personalities of every individual that makes the Wesley community what it is which adds to the uniqueness of this community.
2. What is the greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community and how do you plan to address this as an elected officer? The greatest area of growth needed within the Wesley Community is Diversity; in the classrooms, in worship services, and residential life. This can be achieved by bringing it to the attention of the student council as well as the student body by focusing and working diligently together (with faculty and staff as well) to ensure that everyone is welcomed and is embraced as a community.
3. What qualifications make you a great candidate for this position? With the assistance from my student government team, I have a proven successful track record of change during my undergraduate years serving as Freshman and Senior Class President. In addition, I served one full term (2015-2016) as the Association of Black Seminarians President; while under my leadership, the Association of Black Seminarians leadership and student body had made every attempt to allow everyone's voice to be heard and being advocates for diversity and change in the Wesley Community. I served two terms as a Wesley Student Council Member. Lastly, because of the tireless work I do in the community/society proves that I have a heart for the people in which I serve regardless of who they are or what path of life they have come from.

Katie Beth Miksa 

1. What is your favorite aspect of the Wesley Community and why? Wesley has a very diverse community, yet among these people from different places, of different ages, of different skin tones, gender, sexual orientation, and denominational affiliation, there is a commitment to try to love and serve one another in Christ. We fail at it everyday, yet we still show up. We continually ask how to love one another better and how to move forward, growing from the challenges. And in those moments when we forget to ask how to love better, our peers hold us accountable. This teachable spirit is palpable to me, and why I love Wesley.  

2. What is the greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community and how do you plan to address this as an elected officer? There seems to be a deep seated anxiety among members of the Wesley community as we struggle together to change. Some changes are brought upon us like degree program shifts. Other changes are self-initiated like restructured student organizations. Some changes just happen when it's time--the shifting faces among faculty and staff. I would lead the student council to identify three of the greatest sources of anxiety and think creatively and strategically about how we can reduce it now with an eye to long term transformation of the source.  
3. What qualifications make you a great candidate for this position? In my past, I have served as president for several student organizations: my college campus ministry, my college's Panhellenic council, and my state Paint Horse Association (yep, I did 4-H). At Wesley, I planned the 2014 National Transgender Day of Remembrance service and served on Wednesday Night Chapel planning.   For the past year I have sat on Wesley's Masters Committee and was responsible for initiating this committee's survey to assess the impact of scheduling changes. I have also been one of Wesley's representatives to the Washington Theological Consortium, doing ecumenical work, and have served as Of Sacred Worth's Student Council Representative. 

Simone Hutchings

1. What is your favorite aspect of the Wesley Community and why? My favorite aspect of the Wesley Community is the opportunity to engage with different people. The Wesley Community consists of people from various backgrounds and theologies and I am always excited and grateful to hear their unique opinions and experiences.
2. What is the greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community and how do you plan to address this as an elected officer? One area of continued growth needed in the Wesley Community is communication. I plan to expand Wesley’s online presence using social media, hold forums that encourage continuous dialogue, and develop cross-departmental programing that is intentional about bridging gaps identified by the community. I am committed to fostering a community where honest communication is a foundation on which we can address community concerns, develop programs, and deepen our understanding of one another. 
3. What qualifications make you a great candidate for this position? I am a patient communicator, collaborative, and have high standards for the work I do. In working as a dialogue facilitator, serving as a Resident Manager, and studying in the film department at AU, I have learned to handle conflict and communicate with various personalities, and collaborate closely with faculty and students. I take my responsibilities seriously and hold myself to high standards, striving to produce high quality work while faithfully serving others.

Samantha (Sammy) Klipsch

1. What is your favorite aspect of the Wesley Community and why? My favorite aspect of the Wesley Community is the passion that is present in student's, faculty and staff. Wesley creates a place for these passions to grow and intertwine with others, and as we work to learn and grow in our passions and the passions of those around us we create a beautiful picture of what it means to be the body of Christ. I've learned so much in just a year at Wesley because of our community.
2. What is the greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community and how do you plan to address this as an elected officer? One of the areas that could use some growth is how we support one another or get people connected with different resources and opportunities. I hope that as a council we can work to hear the needs of our community and address them by creating spaces that are accessible to all to give us their thoughts and hopes for our community and the places they see that need to grow. Also, hopefully a place to share about where we are connected and different opportunities for a variety of ministries.
3. What qualifications make you a great candidate for this position? I have held leadership roles in my undergrad campus ministry, helped organize and start a new campus ministry and worked as a youth minister which allowed me to gain experience in working with a body of people towards a shared mission and vision. Throughout these experiences I learned skills in communicating, organizing, working in teams, handling budgets, overseeing events and creating events. I was also on student council this year and have begun to learn what it does and what it could do. I look forward to the great things this new council will accomplish for this student body.

Samantha Larson

1. What is your favorite aspect of the Wesley Community and why? My favorite aspect of the Wesley community is the diversity of spiritual gifts and talents of the folks within it.  I also love the passion of so many individuals and the ways in which they give through those talents to this community.  I hope that in the new academic year Student Council can begin to tap into that range of gifts and skills to care for all people within the Wesley community.  
2. What is the greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community and how do you plan to address this as an elected officer? I think the greatest areas of growth in the Wesley community are bridging divides among groups of students as well as providing holistic care along the seminary journey.  I want to continue to invite more voices into the processes of student council to affect change.  Additionally, I will continue to work with the Student Care Committee to seek out and provide student-led care and call to other groups within Wesley to bring about more care options for all facets of our lives mentally, spiritually, and physically.
3. What qualifications make you a great candidate for this position? I have two years of experience on the student council as well as with the housing office as a Resident Manager.  I have also been on campus for three years providing institutional knowledge that will be essential in inspiring and bringing about positive change for students.

Elijah Ferebee

My name is Elijah Stephan Ferebee, I hail from Brooklyn New York and I am currently a second-year student here at Wesley Theological Seminary. I am enrolled in the Masters of Divinity program where upon completion I hope to become an ordained deacon in the United Methodist Church. Prior to entering Wesley I earned my bachelors of science in the study of psychology at Virginia State University. Mental health, mental development, and ministry are all areas in which I have great passion and believe that God has called me to make my life’s work in. On campus I am an active member of the Association Of Black Seminarians and also am newly involved with Wesley Theological Seminary’s diversity committee, in the recent past I have held occupation as a housing resident assistant, youth ministry assistant/ chaperone, male mentor through Virginia State University’s “men of troy” program, VSU United Campus Ministries choir member and community service volunteer, I believe that all of these and other experiences and positions I have held have thoroughly prepared me for a role in student council. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and thank each and every individual involved in the candidate selection process and I thank you, the student body of Wesley Theological Seminary for giving and trusting myself and the other candidates with your voice and vision. As a member of student council, I want to ensure that your cares and concerns do not go unheard and that your thoughts, ideas and suggestions come to fruition where possible. We are not simply a community, we are a family and each member of this family’s voice and vision is of equal importance, with that being said, I look forward to what the future holds for all of us here at Wesley and again thank you all for this chance and opportunity.

Lauren Bennett

When I was a child, I wanted to be a Blue Angel, specifically, Blue Angel number 5 because the rumor on the playground was that it was upside down the most of all the other planes. (The Blue Angels are a small group of elite Navy pilots that conduct airplane acrobatics.) Every summer when I left my home in Seattle to hang out with my grandparents in Florida, I would fly as an unaccompanied minor and get to meet the pilots before the flight. By the time I was 13, I had enough wings to cover the whole side of my favorite, embroidered, jean jacket.

Now, I sit in the refectory of a seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity. When I told my dad that’s where I was headed, he was pretty sure that meant I was going to be a wizard, so even though I may not be a pilot, I’m almost a wizard.

I am grateful I get to serve my denomination, Metropolitan Community Churches, as the meeting and conference coordinator while pondering what it means to live a Christian life that pursues mercy, justice and kindness. In my short time here, I have grown to love Wesley and am honored to have received a nomination to serve on Student Council, which would expand on my current service as the Consortium representative. If elected, it would be a privilege to offer skills and questions in a more involved way.

Ivan Milosi

My name is Ivan Milosi first year MDV student, double graduate from Africa University 2010 Bachelor of Divinity, 2014 MA in Conflict Resolution, I am a United Methodist Clergy since 2009. I am an extrovert, enthusiastic, passionate and dedicated person who can grasp easily and quickly new ideas and concept. I love engaging in conversation with people regardless of their age, race, sex, gender religion, political affiliation for I believe conversation has the power to build bridges between people and destroy walls between them. I work with people work effectively as part of a team and I can work well too on my own initiative with or without supervisor and still demonstrate a high level of commitment and motivation required to perform efficiently. I am a decisive, time conscientious and action oriented person. Being aware of my limitation and weaknesses as a human being, I work as hard as I can as if the completion of my goals depends only on my hard work and once the work is done, and once the work is completed, I pray as much as I can as if the completion of my goal depends only on my prayers.

James Turner

1. What is your favorite aspect of the Wesley Community and why? My favorite aspect of the Wesley Community is the fellowship. Being able to fellowship with other seminarians is great way to create lasting connections and friendships as well as having deep and meaningful conversations with fellow students who may be struggling with the same theological questions you may have.
2. What is the greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community and how do you plan to address this as an elected officer? The greatest area of growth needed in the Wesley Community is funding for student groups. I believe that there are student groups that have great ideas for events but due to funding may not be able to have the event. I plan to address this as an elected officer to find ways to increase the budget while decreasing unnecessary expenditures.
3. What qualifications make you a great candidate for this position? The qualifications that make me a great candidate for this position is that my undergraduate degree is in Business Management and my graduate degree is a M.B.A. I have also worked for the Finance Department at my church and created budgets for over 20 Homeowner Associations with annual incomes of over $100,000 a year prior to attending Wesley.