Fall 2023 SSGA Candidates
Jillian Burchfield - President
Hi! I am Jillian Burchfield and I am originally from northern Michigan and I moved to Alaska for college. While in high school I had the honor of being president of SkillsUSA which is a US career and technical student organizationto empower students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. While in this role I had understood the importance of inclusivity and diversity.This opportunity pushes me to run for UAS student president asI believe our differences are what make us special. I'll advocate inclusivity and diversity, making sure every student feels heard and valued, regardless of their background.I believe that UAS has the potential to be more than just a place of learning; it can be a place of growth, empowerment, and unity. It's a place where friendships are forged and experiences are endless.
Travis Russell - Vice President
My name is Travis Russell, I am originally from Michigan but I'm here at UAS to study aquaculture for a semester. I am majoring in Wildlife and fisheries management at Northern Michigan University. In my free time, I love doing anything outdoors including hiking, backpacking, fishing, rock climbing, mountain biking, playing soccer, and playing ultimate frisbee. I thought joining student government would be a great way to meet some new people and have a great time.
Kylie Orlando - Treasurer
Hello! My name is Kylie Orlando and I am a senior in high school taking dual-enrollment classes at UAS. When I graduate, I am going to pursue a B.A. in Political Science. My dream in life is to be a congresswoman and, as cheesy as it may sound, to leave the world a better place. As long as I can remember I have been in student government. Whether as the president, the publicity manager, or simply a representative, I have had diverse experience throughout my time involved. I love to spend my time taking steps to change the status quo. Last year, I was involved in AASG (Alaska Association of Student Governments) conferences where I worked to pass and fail resolutions written by other schools. Here, I was also able to write resolutions regarding mental health/safety and inclusivity. Both resolutions passed with flying colors and one of them even won the resolution of the conference award. I also received a delegate of the region award. Also, over summer, I was accepted into a program called Democracy Summer where I got to be a fellow and work alongside Congresswoman Mary Peltola. Here, I gained so much knowledge on the topics of voter registration, democratic ideals, etc. from real politicians (I even got to meet AOC!). It was one of the greatest experiences of my life that I am so proud of. Those are a couple of the qualifications I have to lead this school. Also, just for fun, some things I enjoy/some of my hobbies are singing, DDF (Drama, Debate, and Forensics), playing instruments, listening to Taylor Swift, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Thank you for reading this and please vote Kylie Orlando so we can spark change in this school together.
Aspen Monique Knight - Secretary
Hello! My name is Aspen Knight. I wanted to be involved in student government because when I lived in Colorado I was in charge of a community outreach program that was run through Jian after school program. I loved being able to be involved in the community and help plan fun gatherings and work in community based programs. We did a lot of fundraising for local schools and teachers, as well as putting on fun events for the kids in our area. I would love to be a part of the student government so I can continue to help plan out events that would benefit both UAS students and the community. Thank you!
Tonya Dumville - Public Relations Officer
Hi, my name is Tonya. I am currently living in Michigan. This is my first year and I am studying for Associate of Science, but not my first time attending UAS. I previously completed the nursing assistant program in Sitka. While working in the medical field I was able to help run a medical clinic and communicate between our patients and our providers. I hope to be that helpful connection between students and faculty. Thank you