Their answers run the gamut, but for me, this article could be it. I never thought saying goodbye would be so hard. I’ve grown to love this job and, even more so, the people I’ve worked with. Without them, none of the successes this year would have been possible. My committee chairs and officers are at the top of that list. Thank you Mike Goldenberg, Julia Leusner, August Fietkau, Jackie Krajewski, Nick Wood, Alice Hsu, Marcus Griep, Dan Horvath, Zack Freeman, Dietrich Murawsky, Kim Conway, Donald Pendagast, Jason Rokeach, Bob Fishel, and Kevin Ly. To the entire Student Senate, I wish to thank you for all your hard work and the contributions you’ve made to our alma mater. Together we have embraced a vision and conviction that has resulted in some amazing accomplishments.

Our theme of shared governance sustained us. Never once did we assume the right of office. Instead, we worked collaboratively with faculty, staff, and administrators to share in the responsibility of identifying and offering solutions to problems that students articulated. Not once this year did we simply place a problem on administration’s desk without also providing some assistance in solving those problems.

Thanks to a tremendous partnership with the Faculty Senate and Provost Bud Peterson we have succeeded in establishing a midterm assessment policy and new policies to improve advising. I’d especially like to thank the President of the Senate, Dr. Achille Messac, for his dedication to students and Professors Amir Hirsa, Mike Hanna, and Debbie Kaminski for their leadership.

Thanks to an equally incredible partnership with the administration, I can’t begin to describe all that has been endeavored and thank all those involved, but I am particularly grateful for the work of CIO John Kolb, Chief Network Architect John Fisher, and the DotCIO staff for their assistance in helping us launch Ruckus. I am grateful to Director of the Union Rick Hartt and VP for Student Life Dr. Eddie Ade Knowles for helping us succeed with Go Be Red and the coming Red Army.

VP for Administration Claude Rounds, Assistant VP Paul Martin, and Mary Alice O’Brien have been instrumental in assisting us with the Shuttle Tracking System. On a similar note, I wish to thank the Director of Auxiliary Services Kathy Edick and Supervisor of Parking and Transportation Carol Wagar for working with us on the STS and the improved shuttle route. Thanks also to former VP of Government and Community Relations Larry Snavley, acting VP Allison Newman, Director of State Relations John McEnroe, and Director of Federal Relations Debbie Altenburg for helping us accomplish so much with our new Student Advocacy Corps. Finally, students have a respected voice on a state and national level.

Of course, the Rensselaer Alumni Association has also been an incredible partner, helping with our Externship initiative and Project Hope. I am personally indebted to Director of Alumni Relations Jeff Schanz and two great RAA presidents, Bob Foreman and Dennis Powers. Thanks also to Cynthia Smith for helping coordinate Project Hope.

Our partnership with Sodexo has been equally beneficial. Thanks to the commitment of Resident District Manager John Fusco and numerous others, we were able to bring new life to a newly renovated and vibrant Rathskellar. The monetary commitment was essential, but the partnership is priceless.

I can’t even begin to say how indebted I am to President Jackson, not only for her leadership of the Institute, but more personally for her thoughtful guidance on student initiatives, especially with the Student Advocacy Corps and Ruckus. Her devotion to our shared vision went far beyond our meetings. I will never forget the time she joined us on the football field to rally school spirit as we kicked off Go Be Red with a Guinness World Record attempt of the largest Electric Slide.

For all that was attempted this year, none of it would have been possible without the support of a few people helping me behind the scenes. Thank you Colonel Bell, Lieutenant Colonel Deary, Captain Hughes, Master Sergeant Breclaw and the rest of the cadre of my proud Air Force ROTC detachment (2004 Best Small Unit in the nation!). Thanks also to my fellow cadets for your patience and support. Thank you dad, mom, and my awesome roommates for believing in me and for encouraging me through so many sleepless nights. Rick, Martha, Cameron and the entire Union Admin staff, I owe you more than words can say. Linda McCloskey and staff, thank you as well for your advice.

Finally, let me thank all of you for trusting in me to serve you. For those who are graduating, I wish you the very best, and for those who will stay, I wish you continued success. Never stop believing. Anything is possible.

As for me, one part of a very challenging and illuminating experience is coming to an end, one that I will treasure for the rest of my life. In closing, let me echo Saint Paul in saying, “I have run with perseverance and have finished the race.” Whether I have finished the race successfully or not is not for me to say; I will leave it to you to be the judge.