Why Be An Executive
By: Brittany Lausen
The Students’ Association of Red Deer Polytechnic is having a By-election for the position of Vice President External, as well as 8 spots on Council and I wanted to tell you from the perspective of a former student leader why the heck it is totally worth it to join the Students’ Association as Council or as an Executive!
I started my journey as a Councillor on the Students’ Association’s Summer Council in 2017. During my time as a Councillor, I was lucky enough to volunteer at a variety of different events that I was passionate about such as mental health, sexual violence, student experience, and Green Campus – just to name a few. I loved getting to have a voice around the Council table and share my opinion on things that were affecting me and my fellow students. This sparked my passion for student leadership and wanting to make post-secondary the best it can be for students. So, I ran for the role as Vice President Community & Wellness (a position no longer available) 2018/2019 and from there I went on to serve 2-terms as President for the Association from 2019-2021.
I will never be able to measure the positive impact student leadership has had on my life. During my time, I had the opportunity to network and build relationships with Senior Administration, Deans, department Directors, instructors, and staff in the College community. I was able to network with government, elected officials, entrepreneurs, and other community leaders. I gained experience with operations management, governance, advocacy, non-profit organizations, million-dollar budgets, public speaking, teamwork, and the most obvious skill – leadership. I was given professional development opportunities as I attended conferences related to sexual violence and governance. I received Mental Health First Aid and First Responder to Sexual Violence Training. I went to Edmonton many times with other student leaders and advocated on behalf of 110,000 Alberta Post-Secondary Students to government. I shared my perspective with the Alberta 2030 Review – a review of the entire Alberta Post-Secondary System that will have impacts for years to come. I provided student feedback on curriculum for RDP’s new degrees when they were in their development. The number of cool things I got to do while I was on Council and an Executive for the Students’ Association could go on for miles, so I’ll stop here. Being a Student Leader is one of the coolest things I have ever done, and I hope you’ll consider it too.
So, to conclude – why be an exec?
Because it can not only change your life but give you the opportunity to change others’ lives without them even knowing.
Our Vice President External, Logan Beauchamp, has resigned from his position with the Students’ Association of Red Deer Polytechnic, effective immediately. We thank Logan for his service to our Members and wish him well in his future endeavours.
Hi, my name is Logan Garbanewski, but I like to go by Logan Beauchamp. I am running for the position of Vice-President External because I want to represent you and all your needs and interests in a productive and thorough manner to all external organizations and government bodies. 
Thank you so much for taking the time to ‘meet’ me. I’m Kareen Lambert, and I am running for the position of Vice President External (VPX). This is my first year attending Red Deer College in the Social Work Diploma program. I was drawn to social work, and to Red Deer College, through my extensive work and volunteering in diversity, inclusion, and advocacy. I have been involved with a wide variety of community organizations and coalitions in Red Deer, collaborating with and advocating to all levels of government in various capacities. Some of the highlights of my community involvement have been with the Red Feather Women, the Central Alberta Poverty Reduction Alliance, the Red Deer Welcoming & Inclusive Community Network, the Trans & Nonbinary Aid Society, the Central Alberta Pride Society, the Red Deer Local Immigration Partnership, and the Lifelong Learning Council of Red Deer. My personal life, my career life, and my student life are all proudly centred around ensuring people are as supported as possible. Taking on the role of VPX would be no different; support, care, and connectedness are always at the core of what I do. 
Tansi! I am Shannon Humphrey; it has been an honour to serve as your Vice President Academic (VPA) for the past year. I am seeking re-election for a second term serving in this vital role. I am in the second year of my Justice Studies Diploma and hold a Bachelor of Business Administration. I am a lifelong learner honing my passion for advocacy. In my eight years at RDC, I’ve been involved in numerous advocacy efforts, both on campus and in the community. I believe it is extremely important to have a strong student voice in the room at every level of decision-making throughout Red Deer College (RDC) to ensure students are heard and your best interests are upheld. I want to continue to be that voice for the students and continue to represent you on multiple committees and working groups throughout the college. 
Brenan has been a part of the RDC community for a number of years, and has had four different majors in that time, proving that you don’t need to have a clear and defined path as soon as you enter post-secondary schooling. Brenan is in their 4th year of their BA Psychology program through the collaborative with the University of Calgary. One of the main advantages that Brenan can offer to students is that by being a long term student at RDC they have a greater understanding of what resources, opportunities, and programs are available to student members, in addition to the struggles that they face as part of their education.
Hi there! My name is Brittney, and I am a third-year student studying in Occupational and Physical Therapist Assistant! When I am not on campus, you may find me participating in activities or clubs either on-campus or off-campus. I have a strong passion for being an advocate for the deaf or hard of hearing community and disabilities! It is not just that I advocate for; I also support mental health, background, gender, and sexuality. It will be my third term running for the student council. I do believe I have so many experiences of being such a strong advocate.