You’re looking at two students with a lot of power. And money — thousands of student dollars to spend. But who are they really? Emilee and Dillon: g An inside look at the leaders who help shape campus life.
It is the responsibility of the Student Government Association to ask “What do students think?” said Dillon Wilcox, vice president of the organization.
But while Wilcox and SGA President Emilee Lehenbauer delve into the mind of the student body, how aware is that mind of the students representing them?
Meet Emilee Lehenbauer
Lehenbauer is a local of Stillwater, Okla., and was elected SGA president last spring.
“I moved to Stillwater from California when I was nine and have always loved being a part of the Stillwater community,” said Lehenbauer, an international business and community nutrition senior.
And while many students want to go to a college far from their hometown, her decision to stay Stillwater wasn’t hard to make, she said.
“OSU blood runs deep in my family, and I couldn’t be more proud to carry on that tradition,” Lehenbauer said.
Lehenbauer said she initially planned to pursue a master’s degree in public health after graduating; however, after spending time this past summer in South Africa, she changed her mind.
Lehenbauer worked for the Thanda After-School Program.
She helped write lesson plans and develop curriculum.
Lehenbauer said she noticed the students, who ranged from 10th to 12th grade, weren’t given much chance to express their opinions in class.
“Their education system is so cut and dry,” she said.
Therefore, she started having discussions with them and teaching them essay writing.
After this experience, she decided to look into graduate work in international development with a possible focus in nutrition.
Lehenbauer joined SGA to get involved with the students and life on campus.
“As an incoming freshman, I knew I wanted to be very involved on campus,” Lehenbauer said.
Along with working hours upon hours in the SGA office, Lehenbauer spends her time teaching others about makeup as an associate consultant for Clinique.
She has worked for the company for the past two years.
Lehenbauer is an alumna of Chi Omega after completing four years as an active member, she said.
Hello, Dillon Wilcox
Wilcox was born in Kansas City, Mo., and graduated high school in Broken Arrow, Okla. While in high school, Wilcox did not participate in student government, but he did help rewrite the student handbook, said Wilcox, an economics and political science junior.
Most of his time in high school was spent in the pool swimming for about 20-30 hours a week, Wilcox said. When the time came to find a college to go to, Wilcox was originally searching for one with a swim team.
Without any success finding a university to satisfy his need to swim, he began to look into OSU and OU. After visiting both schools, he found the atmosphere of OSU to be more friendly and more to his liking, Wilcox said.
He joined the Arts and Sciences student council during his freshman year and joined SGA shortly after to get to know people and make changes for the students, Wilcox said.
He is in his fourth semester as a member of SGA and was thrilled when he was named vice president.
“I was really excited about it because campaigning is nuts,” Wilcox said.
At the end of the campaign, he was happy to go home and sleep peacefully.
His responsibilities as SGA vice president include extensive planning for student events. The biggest event that he takes part in is Lights on Stillwater, Wilcox said.
Other time consuming events include Fridays at the Fountain, Take a Kid to the Game and Toys to the Game, Wilcox said.
Apart from his activity in SGA, Wilcox enjoys swimming, cycling, camping, backpacking or “anything outdoors”.
He enjoys watching football and basketball, but says those sports become boring after a while, which is why when the Olympics come on TV, he always keeps one eye on the events.
“I am kind of an Olympics nut,” Wilcox said.
After graduation, he plans to pursue law school somewhere on the coast.
“You can do a lot with a law degree,” Wilcox said.
Lehenbauer and Wilcox have shown their commitment to SGA and have been recognized by others as hardworking, respectful leaders.
“I think Emilee and Dillon are very committed to serving OSU students and want SGA to be able to help advance issues that are important to students,” said Kent Sampson, director of Campus Life and associate director of the Student Union.
Sampson has served as the SGA adviser for 11 years and has had many memorable moments with Lehenbauer and Wilcox.
“Fretting with Dillon over the rain and Lights on Stillwater, working with Emilee on the leadership manual to come out this fall,” Sampson said.
Lehenbauer and Wilcox said they are dedicated to serving the students of OSU under all circumstances and will continue to use their powers of leadership for the good of the school.
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