The new student leadership team for Brigham Young University-Hawaii Service Association (BYUHSA) continues with the focus of providing leadership opportunities for students. “We are a service association, not a student association,” said President Dallin Jared Leota, a freshman studying psychology from Australia.BYUHSA will serve students by helping them figure out the issues that they have with the school, bringing them to people they need to talk to and see. “We’re down here with you, working, and we’re all serving and doing the same thing as you, except we can try and help train you to voice what concern you have, and know the right people you are to talk to resolve those concerns,” said Leota. “We want our students to become self-reliant, as the Lord would want us to be.”Recently elected as president of BYUHSA, Leota said his time is filled with family, church and work. Leota was eager to share his dream of what he imagines BYUHSA to achieve and said, “I was blessed to know that on the day of graduation, the first day I was president. I saw the graduates coming in, and I couldn’t help but feel exactly what the Lord wanted, that every student is to leave here with the ability to build up the kingdom and establish peace wherever they go.” Sala McCarthy-Stonex, a junior from Laie studying political science, is one of the new vice presidents dealing with concerns, education and feedback through the Student Advisory Council (SAC). She loves understanding and learning languages. “I love thinking. I love learning. Because I have a love of learning, I enjoy getting to know other people,” she said. “I look forward to helping and bettering the experience of students here and students that come in the future.” McCarthy-Stonex coordinates a team that works to do research and collaboration on issues that are submitted to them. The SAC Feedback Form is found at: http://student.byuh.edu/node/391Blake Va’aulu, a senior from Samoa studying business management, and the vice president over student associations (BSAs), enjoys basketball, movies and eating. “I want to help students feel proud of where they are going to school. I feel like I’ve had a lot of experience here, and I want other people to have the same feeling.” Va’aulu coordinates leadership development for the 41 student associations, ranging from cultural groups to special interests like Photography, Gamers, Anime, etc.Andrew Collette, a junior studying business management from California, also spends most of his time with his wife and is happy spending time and doing things with other people. He is the person to see in the office if you need help. He adds, “I make sure everyone does everything. I do record keeping, lots of emails, organizing and Excel spreadsheets.” The new presidency at BYUHSA is there to help instead of being a middleman. “That’s not what we want our purpose to be,” said McCarthy-Stonex. “It’s more empowering students to be able to solve their own problems and connecting them with the administration. We want the students to be their own leaders and own problem solvers.” “The ultimate goal is to establish an environment where students can enjoy themselves and gain a quality education that’s possible by making just the whole process easier here,” said Va’aulu. “So that more time is spent on important stuff, like relationships. We’re here to help.” Uploaded May 21, 2015
Writer: Rachel Reed
