UTSA student government leaders learn about traditions, PR, sustainability and more

From left are S.G.A. leader Xavier Johnson, adviser John Montoya and S.G.A. leaders Roger Frigstad, Nicole Munoz and Derek Trimm at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado

(Nov. 23, 2010)--Four UTSA Student Government Association officers recently attended the National Association for Campus Activities Student Government Institute in Golden, Colo. The institute is one of two national institutes specifically for student government leaders and is held each summer. This is the sixth year UTSA participated in the event.

Derek Trimm, S.G.A. president and senior finance major from Houston; Nicole Munoz, S.G.A. vice president and junior political science major from San Antonio; Roger Frigstad, S.G.A. treasurer and business management major from San Antonio; and Xavier Johnson, S.G.A. secretary and sophomore liberal arts major from Austin, attended the event with Barry McKinney, S.G.A. co-adviser and director of student activities, and John Montoya, S.G.A. adviser and assistant director of student activities. McKinney has served the past three years as the national association's institute series coordinator.

The institute was conducted at the Colorado School of the Mines and covered topics including town-gown relations, public relations, recruiting and retaining members, parliamentary procedure and sustainability, which was this year's theme.

It was especially pertinent to learn about sustainability, then visit the Rocky Mountain National Park, attend a local farmer's market to see the world's natural resources, and then learn how to incorporate sustainable activities on a college campus.

The students were able to network with other student government leaders from more than 25 campuses across the United States including Arizona State University, University of Nevada-Reno, University of Florida, Georgetown School of Law and Kennesaw State University.

Additionally, students experienced the culture of Colorado and the historic West. They visited the gravesite of Buffalo Bill and toured Red Rocks, which was once one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. They visited Rocky Mountain National Park and the city of Estes Park.

The group also spent time interacting with the student government leaders of the University of Colorado to get information on becoming more sustainable on campus. They also researched some of the University of Colorado traditions related to football in preparation for the start of football next fall at UTSA.