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Lance Makinano and Aldo Lopez were declared the winners of the Associated Students of Cerritos College presidential election on April 12.
Makinano and Lopez won the election with 172 in their favor against 100 votes for presidential candidates JaQuea Willis and Daniel Gomez.
Former ASCC President and Student Trustee Jason Macias has also won the title of Student Trustee this year over incumbent Ariel Hughes with 201 votes to 147.
During their campaign, Makinano and Lopez emphasized their concern in the lack of efficient communication between the student body and the legislative body of the campus.
In particular, state political issues affecting the enrollment and financing of education here at Cerritos College.
“Everyone has to band together before resources are gone, before funding from the state and the federal levels has shrunk to a minimal amount,” Makinano said.
Lopez shared Makinano’s interest to meet the needs of student body through consistent communication.
“We want to put students first, we want them to come to us and be confident in what they need to come to us so we can do it for them. If we don’t have that communication with the students, overall we can’t serve the students well. So, our emphasis is to put the students first to place their concerns as our concerns.”
Macias’ first term as Student Trustee oversaw the inception of the iFalcon program, earning a $5 million Title V Grant from the state.
This was one of many achievements that earned the respect of his fellow ASCC members.
Including Makinano, who as a presidential candidate expressed his endorsement for Macias.
“It was a very hard decision for me [having worked closely with all of the ASCC Trustees] but I have to endorse Jason Macias because he has been ASCC president and student trustee at the same time. He knows the Board of Trustees already, he knows what needs to be done and he has always fought historically for his students,” He said.
The torch has now been passed from outgoing ASCC President Jasmin Ramirez and Vice President Julian Del Real-Calleros to continue meeting and surpassing the expectations of the student body.
Student Trustee Areal Hughes offered her words of encouragement to the new presidential administration as well the new trustee.
“Always respect each other and work together because you are all a body of leadership whom the students look up to. Keep up the good work and always remember to keep the students involved. Keep their needs first above anything else.”
