Student Senate Elections

Joel Alderman - Downtown Campus Senator

I am 25, a Junior Business Economics Major who plans to also pursue a Masters after graduation here at HPU. I began taking classes at HPU in the spring of 2007, and after a break for family reasons I am back at HPU to finish my educational goals. I am an Arizona native, but have lived in Hawai’i a third of my life with much of my family on this island. I was taught to be a leader at a young age through my path to becoming an Eagle Scout, and through the values instilled in me by my family.

I have been a leader in much of my professional career as well. I became a store Manager at age 19, and the location Manager for a multi-million dollar corporation location at 23 (a position that I left to return to HPU). I have served as an Eagle Scout Candidate Advisor, Merit Badge Counselor, and Den Leader.  I have collaborated with politicians, including Mayors, City Council Members, Consuls, as well as others in different capacities on various projects. One of my ultimate goals is to make a difference by pursuing my political ambitions locally, and possibly nationally.

I am running for Downtown Senator for several reasons. HPU is going through several changes, and will be going through many more in the coming few years. My goal is make sure that the changes going forward are for the better, and have a high level of student input. I am a very outspoken advocate of issues I (and my fellow students) feel strongly about. I stay abreast of the issues and if the student body elects me to become one of their voices on campus, my door will always be open to hear your concerns and assist in resolving them. Mahalo. <back to top>

Lena Davidsson - International Senator

My name is Lena Davidsson and I was born in Ireland only to be raised in Canada and Sweden by a Jamaican mother. Talk about your culture clash, but I call all of these places home. Better yet, after two years in beautiful and diverse Hawaii I find myself adding Oahu to the list. In no other place have I met so many open-minded people from all around the world, all of them willing to work and learn together. However the first steps toward embracing a culture completely different from your own can be a challenge, one which has proven to be entirely worth it.

Since the sixth grade I have been elected spokesperson for my classes and at my international high school I served as Senator of Natural Science for my three years there. During this time I was a part of many clubs and committees and loved it. My Junior year as senator I co-organized a two-week trip CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research  in Geneva where we were also guided in the United Nations’ European  headquarters. This trip really made me see how international connections are not only interesting but can also be immensely professionally rewarding as well.

One of the things I enjoy most in life is being able to work hard for something and to actually see a difference made for the people around me. If I get the chance, I will bring to this position great commitment, energy and curiosity. At HPU we are presented with a unique opportunity to expand our views like nowhere else, creating lifelong friendships and connections all around the globe. I want to make sure that we get the very most out of it. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.<back to top>

Sean DeWoody - Downtown Campus Senator

To jump right in to who I am and why I am running for reelection as your Downtown Student Senator for the Student Government.  My name is Sean DeWoody and I come from Sutter, California.  Nestled in the foothills of the Sutter Buttes, I moved to Hawaii to pursue my education and found myself at HPU. I am majoring in Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology and look to open my own school one day.  I am running for reelection as  I feel there is still work unfinished that I have begun.  This is a time of great change and growth for the university and I would like to see the student body take advantage of this period with proper representation and voice.  I want to continue my mission from last year in developing the voice of the students to be much more than an afterthought, and more of an equal within the administration of the college. 

My qualifications range greatly.  From experience working within institutions of higher education, serving as an officer of student government for the last three years, and leading thriving college organizations at my previous school.  I bring to bear a large pool of experience that I would like to apply to my position and make available for my fellow students. Of the many things I look to bring to the attention of the university and student body is that we need to work closer together as a unified body.  I believe that HPU has the potential to develop a community that transcends the boundary between faculty and student.  I would like to see a student body that embodies the ideas many of us seek in a university and promise to continue my work towards providing this experience for you. <back to top>

Samantha Espinoza - Veterans Senator

Samantha Espinoza was born and raised in a small town in northern California. She grew up playing soccer and softball throughout her childhood as well as her high school years. After graduating in 2008 she enlisted in the military and left for Navy boot camp. Samantha was stationed in Norfolk Virginia attached to an aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, where she served for four years. Working as a personnel specialist she advanced from E-1 to E-4.  While enlisted her ship deployed for 7 months, she held multiple collateral duties, attended college courses and played for the Truman Soccer Team. Upon her separation she made the decision to move from Norfolk Virginia to Honolulu, Hawaii, where she would study at Hawaii Pacific University.  Since attending HPU she has become a part of the Student Success Committee and has had the honor to serve as Veteran Senator. She is currently pursuing her Bachelors in Sociology and hopes to obtain a Masters in Anthropology <back to top>

Cody Fultz - Veterans Senator

Cody Fultz is a transfer student in his first semester here at HPU. Originally from California, he joined the U.S. Army in 2005 at the age of nineteen. He served for over four years before being honorably discharged. Cody attained the rank of sergeant and was a team leader to six soldiers. During the duration of his enlistment in the military, Cody served two twelve-month deployments to Iraq. Upon completion of his second tour, he made the conscious decision to part ways with the Armed Forces to focus on his education.

As a sergeant in the Army, Cody prepared written performance and professional growth reports for each soldier monthly, in an effort to identify and mentor each soldier’s strengths and weaknesses, both on and off duty. Expanding on his leadership experiences, Cody was the Inter-Club Council (ICC) Representative for the Veterans Alliance Club at Diablo Valley College (DVC), which functions under California’s Brown Act. DVC ICC conducted weekly meetings in order to discuss club events, club funding, oversee club activities, and collaborate in efforts to improve student life on campus.

Cody is asking for your vote to insert him into the SGA team in order to represent the veteran student body. As a veteran himself, he understands the struggles and difficulties veterans face when transitioning back to the civilian life and, even more so, the student environment. The transition and obstacles veterans face, is Cody’s primary focus. He intends to ensure that all student veterans at HPU have a smooth and fluid transition, and not only in their first semester but each subsequent semester. An additional problematic issue for student veterans is loss of camaraderie and community. Building an environment that fosters a community to assist and connect veterans is of the utmost importance to Cody. Mahalo for your support.  <back to top>

Alexa Lancendorfer - Humanities and Social Sciences Senator

Alexa wishes to obtain a leadership position in SGA not only as valuable experience for her future, but also because she believes she holds the passion, drive, and vision required to help make Hawaii Pacific University a better place for all students. Originally from Detroit Michigan, Alexa came to HPU to experience new cultures. As a junior in international relations and political science and an avid traveler, she will bring plenty of worldly knowledge to student government. Alexa is the assistant manager of all HPU choirs, enrolled in the University Scholars program, and an active member of the United Nations club. Her main platform deals with the lack of student input for the new HPU logo as well as rising tuition costs for humanities and social science majors. Alexa feels as though her passion and determination are her biggest qualifications for this position. Because of her passion and drive towards the current issues at HPU, she will use every resource to ensure the best possible outcome for all students at HPU. In the future Alexa plans to work in the United Nations representing the United States. <back to top>

Sergio Strringfos - Business Administration Senator

My name is Sergio David Stringfors and I am originally from Sweden.  I am majoring in Travel Industry Management (Business) with a Pre-Medical, and Finance minor.
In Sweden, I owned my own health care business, and came to Hawaii to get a second degree, to be able to improve my business skills.

As the 2012-2013 Business Administration Senator, I was able to take concerns that my fellow business students had, and worked towards improving the areas that they were not happy with, such as the internship assistance that is offered by HPU.

To keep the work going, and help improving the smooth academic journey for Business students at HPU, I believe that we need to keep voicing our students opinions and experience, and act on those by working along with the students and the faculty of the college of business.

From my experience during my term as a Senator, I know that with the help of our students, and the Student Government Association, we can work together to make the difference that will make our University a better school, by reviewing the obstacles we encounter, and hopefully find a better alternative. <back to top>

Rita Turner - Nursing and Health Sciences Senator

Hello HPU Student Voters, my name is Rita Turner and I am running for Senator for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences (CNHS).  I am a Level 3 nursing student and came to Hawaii by way of six states, one overseas assignment, and eight years on active duty with the military service.  Though I have lived many places, and Hawaii has much better weather, home is where the heart is, and that is in a small town in Alaska.  I am in my fourth semester at HPU, pursuing my nursing degree after realizing that being a medical professional and helping people is what I truly desire to do.

In addition to getting my degree, I want to enjoy my college experience as much as possible and help the Nursing and Health Sciences students do the same.  One way for you to enjoy your time at HPU is to allow me to be your voice in Student Government.  I want to ensure issues relevant to Nursing and Health Sciences students are heard and inform you of changes and decisions within the University that affect your success at HPU.  I want to be your conduit to raise any concerns you may have from parking to rising tuition costs and everything in between.

What are my qualifications?  I was appointed as the CNHS Senator to Student Government in Fall 2012 and continue to serve you in that capacity.  I gained immeasurable leadership skills in the military, I am a Level 3 Representative in the Student Nurses’ Association (SNA), the SNA representative to the Student Success Committee (SSC), and a student representative on the SSC Sub-committee for Registration issues. 

I hope you will put your faith in me to continue as Senator for the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. <back to top>