MEET THE NEW FACES OF STUDENT GOVERNMENT

President Hansen & VP Roberts welcome all with open doors

Spend a few minutes with new Associated Student Government (ASG) President Bob Hansen and Vice President Melanie Roberts, and you will surely feel the passion and excitement for their roles in the 2018-19 school year that radiates from their smiles and positive attitudes.

Hansen, 21, has been involved in student government for most of his life, much of it spent in Idaho Falls, Idaho. He also served on Louisiana State University’s freshman leadership council for half a semester. Then, he followed his wife to Oregon, where she planned to attend Portland Community College. While looking into other schools in the area, he discovered Mt. Hood’s Entrepreneurship program. He enrolled with dreams of future financial freedom and the ability to be his own boss someday, and also got accepted into ASG as Director of Campus Affairs.

Early impact

When Hansen got involved in student government at a young age, it quickly became a normal part of his student experience. Being able to continue work on projects that he started was a big reason to stay involved, and this became especially important in high school.

“High school is when I got to really start making committees and really having an impact on the high school itself,” he said.

He created a welcoming committee and a new student committee at Bonneville High School to make sure incoming students felt welcome on campus, had a friend from the beginning, and knew who their ASG representatives were.

In a similar way, his primary goal as ASG president at Mt. Hood is to be a voice for the students, alongside Vice President Melanie Roberts.

“We want to be a student voice. We want to help people,” Roberts said. “We want them to come in and talk about concerns because we’re able to go to the board of education.”

The ASG open door also includes free bubble wrap. If you were on campus during elections, you may have heard popping sounds as Hansen used his marketing skills to find an easy way to connect with students. His wife helped him staple “Vote for Bob” and “Vote for Mel” cards onto a small square of bubble wrap.

“The poor library – I feel bad for everyone who was studying that week because you’d just go in and hear [popping sounds],” said Hansen. “It was spectacular.”

Embracing leadership

Hansen’s many years of student government experience put him in position to be a mentor to Roberts, eventually leading to their campaign together.

Roberts was born in Seattle, but raised in Gresham. Growing up, she was quiet and reserved.

“I was more like that back in like elementary school and middle school. Back then leadership was kind of like a popularity thing, so I didn’t feel like I could have potential doing it, and I didn’t really want to do it,” she said.

Attending Gresham High School gave Roberts a fresh start. She was no longer with the students she went to middle school with, and she started to come out of her shell. At the end of sophomore year, she ran for student council but didn’t get in, to the disappointment of some of her classmates who were excited about the idea of her filling a leadership role.

“I did another leadership [class] called “Renaissance,” where it’s more like event planning and school spirit type,” she explained.

Last year at MHCC, Roberts took on the position of Special Events Coordinator for Student Activities, and planned the Connect Effect, Halloween Bingo, and Spring Fest. “One person that helped me get to where I’m at today is Justin Core, the student life adviser (who recently departed Mt. Hood),” she said. He’s really helped to get me where I needed to be because I’d talk with him of the good and the bad. He was just there every step of the way.”

Now, Roberts is becoming more outgoing as a result of working with Hansen. “I’ve just looked up to him because he’s very ‘out there’ and a very exciting, charismatic and happy person. I just needed that to help build me, so I’m excited for the year,” she said.

Hansen is eager, too. “Seeing her open up and really express herself and not be scared anymore is really just an amazing thing, and I can’t wait to see how much she grows throughout this next year,” he said.

‘Open door’ for all

Roberts, 19, is keeping her options open for her future because her self-growth has opened her eyes to new possibilities for career paths, based off the skills she’s gained from student activities involvement.

While serving as ASG’s leaders, the pair are also busy with daily life activities, just like most community college students.

Hansen travels to campus from Vancouver, Washington, every day, leaving his wife and three dogs behind while also juggling work and studying full-time. Roberts is stepping back from her job to focus on her role as VP and studying full-time.

When they do get a moment to relax, they both find ways to de-stress. Hansen enjoys spending time at home, or outdoors hiking. Roberts enjoys swimming, watching “Young & Hungry,” and reminiscing on seeing Charlie Puth in concert this summer.

The ASG leaders plan to be a full term ahead, at all times, in event planning with back-up plans in place for everything to make sure all of their events are a success, they said.

At the same time, Hansen said, “We have an open door. I really want all students to know that they’re welcome to come inside the ASG office with any questions, concerns, or comments.

“Even if they just want to meet us, please just come in and say ‘Hi.’ ”

1 Comments

  1. Hi, it is interesting!

    And where is pictures?

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