Cayuga Community College's student government leaders say they want to help students find support, become involved on campus and feel that they belong during the new academic year.
President Lauren Woods and Vice President Marjorie Lester are leading the Student Government Organization, which serves as the student body's official voice, manages student resources and plans campus activities.
Woods, a graduate of G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton, is a first-generation college student and mother of five. She is studying liberal arts and sciences with a concentration in psychology and is also involved with the Wellness Club and Phi Theta Kappa.
Lester, a Port Byron High School graduate and mother of two, previously worked at the E. John Gavras Center in Auburn. She enrolled at Cayuga after the COVID-19 pandemic and is pursuing a human services degree with a concentration in educational support.
Both leaders said personal experience shaped their approach to student government. Woods said encouragement from faculty, staff and classmates helped her recognize her strengths and step into leadership.
She said that experience made her want to support students balancing classes with jobs, family responsibilities or personal challenges. Her goal, she said, is to listen to students, understand what they need and connect them with people and resources that can help.
Lester served as SGO secretary last year before becoming vice president. She said her interest in advocacy and community needs also led her to groups such as NAMI and the Wellness Club.
The organization encourages students to bring questions, concerns and ideas to its office in the campus cafe. Woods said SGO also creates events and other opportunities intended to make campus life more welcoming.
This year, the group plans to launch the Atlas Challenge at an upcoming block party. Inspired by Woods' service dog, the program will encourage students to attend events, serve others and become more involved in campus life while earning recognition.
Woods urged students not to treat college only as a cycle of attending class, completing assignments and going home. She said some of the most meaningful experiences begin when students take a small step outside that routine.
Lester said asking for help is one of the hardest lessons for students of any age, but recognizing personal limits does not mean carrying a burden alone.
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