History
The UTSA Student Government Association (SGA) is an official sponsored student organization. The SGA’s mission is to represent the voice of the students to university administration as well as external organizations.
In October 1976, the UTSA student body voted to accept a constitution establishing the Student Representative Assembly. The constitution was drafted by a student committee and approved by the Board of Regents of the University of Texas System. The first group of executive officers included Mike Tidwell, president; Gloria Castillo, vice president; Craig Youngblood, parliamentarian; Sylvia Foster, recording secretary; James Warren, corresponding secretary; and Jon La Freniere, treasurer. The remainder of the SRA was composed of three elected student representatives for each undergraduate level and three graduate student delegates.
In 1993 the Student Representative Assembly changed their name to the Student Government Association. The organization’s activities have included hosting back-to-school parties, sponsoring film screenings on campus, and allocating money to other student groups to support activities and events. Significant accomplishments in their history include facilitating voting for a university mascot in 1977; advocating for building a university center in 1979; sponsoring the first Fiesta UTSA in 1980; participating in the “10th Birthday of UTSA” celebration and time capsule burial in 1983; and distributing the University Life Awards to recognize outstanding efforts of students, faculty and staff. In the 2010s, the Student Government Association advocated for installing the Roadrunner statue, expanding dining hours, and renovating the Sombrilla fountain.
Past UTSA Student Body Presidents
- 2022-2023 Jasmin Paquet-Durand Ford
- 2021-2022 Jose "Andy" Escobedo
- 2020-2021 Taylor Trigo-Edwards
- 2019-2020 John F. "Jack" Rust
- 2018-2019 Brittany Ashley Garcia
- 2017-2018 Marcus Thomas
- 2016-2017 Andrew Hubbard
- 2015-2016 Ileana Gonzalez
- 2014-2015 Zack Dunn
- 2013-2014 Zack Dunn
- 2012-2013 Xavier Johnson
- 2011-2012 Xavier Johnson
- 2010-2011 Derek Trimm
- 2009-2010 Matt DeLeon
- 2008-2009 Christina Gomez
- 2007-2008 Tommy Thompson
- 2006-2007 Adam Cowdin
- 2005-2006 Jason Palasota
- 2004-2005 Damon Garcia
- 2003-2004 Roger Garza/Ross Langham
- 2002-2003 Melissa Thomas
- 2001-2002 Shelli Lyons
- 2000-2001 Shane Foley
- 1999-2000 Xochitl Yanez
- 1998-1999 Eric Denton
- 1997-1998 Judy Juarez
- 1996-1997 Rob Killen
- 1995-1996 Kristi Hall
- 1994-1995 Andy McManus/Kristi Hall
- 1993-1994 Matt Stern
- 1992-1993 Pat York
- 1991-1992 Mike Flores
- 1990-1991 Judith Morgan
- 1989-1990 Judith Morgan/Mike Flores/Judith Morgan
- 1988-1989 Alan Ashworth
- 1987-1988 David Roth
- 1986-1987 Keith Crabtree
- 1985 -1986 Mark Dubose
- 1984-1985 Rick Montemayor
- 1983-1984 Joey Villareal
- 1982-1983 Steve Southers
- 1981-1982 J.D. Metcalf
- 1980-1981 James W. Wagener
- 1979-1980 Ted Roberts
- 1978-1979 Martin Hinojosa
- 1977-1978 Steve Linahan
- 1976-1977 Michael Tidwell
