An intimate crowd of about 100 gathered in Carillon Garden on the Friday before Spring Break as Clemson Undergraduate Student Government (CUSG) election results were announced. The crowd roared to an approval as Rosie Hanna and Brady Young were announced as the newly elected student body president and vice president, respectively. Their term in office — the 70th in Clemson history — begins Monday, March 23, as they begin the transition of assuming the reins from Zach Freeman and Maya Khaskhely and building their administration.
Hanna is a junior marketing and economics major from Charleston, South Carolina. This past year, she served in Freeman’s administration as secretary of communication and public relations. She says Freeman was instrumental in ultimately opting to run for president.
“Zach took a chance on me and brought me into his leadership circle,” she says. “The way he’s managed relationships with University administrators is something we’re thankful for, and we’re excited to pick up where he left off.”
Hanna says the moment she and Young were announced as the winners was “humbling,” adding it’s a big responsibility and honor to represent their fellow students. But what made the moment even sweeter for Hanna was the fact her father drove down from Charlotte to be there as Maddy McKinely and Thomas Dickson of the CUSG Elections Board made the announcement.
“Without his encouragement and belief in me and my sister, a Clemson alumnae, I wouldn’t be in the position I am today,” she says, proudly.
Student government isn’t Hanna’s first foray into campus life. She joined Delta Sigma Phi, an international business fraternity, as a freshman. Most recently, she became a new tour guide for the University, pouring her love for Clemson back into prospective students.
While Young has not been involved in student government previously, he does have a strong connection with Freeman through their fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha. Young is a finance and accounting major from just outside of Baltimore, Maryland. He’s also active in the IPTAY Student Advisory Board and as a tutor through the Academic Success Center.
“I’ve had experience helping students develop confidence in overcoming hardships,” he says. “That personal growth I see in others is something I attribute my happiness to. I like putting a smile on people’s faces and raising those voices that need to be heard. And now I get to talk in front of a group that wants to see the betterment of Clemson, so putting 100% of my effort into that is something I’m looking forward to.”
Hanna and Young aren’t the only new leaders in CUSG. In February, Angel Feliz was named president of the Undergraduate Senate. A senior computer science major, he is entering his third term in office. He previously served as vice chair and then chair of CUSG’s inclusion and equity committee.
Feliz is involved in several facets of campus life. He co-presides over If You’re Reading This, a mental health writing initiative. He’s been active on student advisory boards, first through the Honors College and currently with the College of Engineering, Computing and Applied Sciences. He’s also a UPIC intern with the Career Innovation Lab.
He looks forward to picking up where his successor, Bryce Getsinger, left off.
“Bryce has given so much of himself to this organization by being a true mentor, student champion and constant source of support,” Feliz says. “What excites me most is the opportunity to build on that foundation in a way that brings Senate closer to the students we represent, ensuring our work is not just discussed in meetings, but felt across campus through meaningful action and real impact.”
