Alberto “Beto” Vasquez has been a student at San Diego City College for the past two years. A re-entry student, 32 years of age, and a father of 2, Beto is one of your candidates for the 2010-2011 SDCC Student Elections. Having two years of prior experience with clubs and our student government, Mr. Vasquez has displayed a remarkable skill in leadership while promoting student solidarity. As student body (AS) president his objectives include:

1) Familiarizing students with their student representatives

2) Educating the entire student body about the responsibilities of the student government

3) Establish our presence as an entity, a resource, and as an educational tool

4) Promote student involvement and interaction

5) Arriving at reasonable outcomes for student issues of concern

6) Giving back to the community

7) Promote club participation and increase activity awareness

8) Develop a great and open plan for the student center

9) Build college and district relations in effort to help our students

Beto Vasquez has been an integral part of student leadership. He currently serves as student representative on the district’s Citizen’s Oversight Committee where he voices student thoughts and concerns regarding the new buildings being erected under propositions S & N. He is also currently president of the Inter Club Council (ICC), which under his leadership has expanded this year. In addition, he has served as president of the Spanish Club, one of the most active clubs on campus, for two years. During this time, he has helped steer much focus onto environmental issues and our school’s involvement with the community. He is continually collaborating with numerous campus (and community) groups and departments, which have led to enhancing the campus environment for all students, but particularly underrepresented students tremendously. He enjoys introducing the element of education through taking action and constantly creates opportunities to get involved by spearheading events such as school representation and involvement in community festivals and events (such as the Cesar Chavez Parade), coordinating larger-scale campus events, homeless outreach, and beach and community clean-ups, such as the Big Clean Up in November which brought together about 200 volunteers, businesses, and donors to remove over 16 tons of garbage from the community of Logan Heights.

Beto is an ideal candidate for the position of AS President, as he epitomizes a community college student leader. He is a parent, an employee and a student and is ready to integrate his life skills to better meet the needs of the student population. His story serves to inspire other students on our campus who come from diverse backgrounds. It shows that whatever challenges a student might face, that with persistence they can endure. He is a self-motivated team player with the unique ability to transfer that motivation to other students who may have faced challenges in their pursuit of higher education. As a student he has great determination, focus and initiative. As a leader he has vision, insight and drive. As a person he is unbiased, hardworking and dedicated to becoming the change he wants to see in the world.

So vote for Beto……..after all, Jesus did.