History Made During Student Government Elections
Ade Ifelayo, a junior economics major from New Orleans, accomplished two firsts with his recent victory as Baylor University's student body president - the native of Nigeria will serve as Baylor's first black and first international student body president.
Baylor students cast their ballots during campus elections held April 11 at Diadeloso.
In the other races, John Leslie Hill, a sophomore from Arlington, was elected student body external vice president. Bradley Wayne Pierce, a sophomore from Dickinson, won election as student body internal vice president. The newly elected officers will begin their terms June 1.
Ifelayo's student government involvement at Baylor includes serving as sophomore class vice president and junior class president. He is a member of three honor societies - Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society; Beta Beta Beta, a national biological sciences honor society; and Golden Key National Honor Society. He also has been a member of the Welcome Week Task Force for two years. A graduate of Alfred Bonnabel High School in Kenner, La., he is the son of Ignatius and Florence Ifelayo of New Orleans.
During his term as president, Ifelayo said he hopes to involve students more in the workings of student government. His major initiatives include extending library hours, adding additional time to Baylor's fall break and increasing scholarships, including those for international students. His future plans include medical school.
Hill, a political science major and Carr P. Collins Scholar at Baylor, has served as freshman and sophomore class president and is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha national political science honor society and Golden Key National Honor Society. A graduate of Arlington Lamar High School, he was a Richard Greene Scholar, a scholarship program for students from each of Arlington's five high schools who have a demonstrated interest in volunteer and/or elected public service. At Baylor, Hill is involved in several community service ventures, including the Baylor Buddies mentoring program and Mission Waco and is currently developing a literacy education partnership between area colleges and the Waco community. After graduation from Baylor, Hill plans to attend law school, followed by a career in public service. He is the son of Les and Deborah Hill of Arlington and the grandson of Patsy Harrison of Chico and Eldred and Berneice Hill of Terrell.
Pierce, a history major on a pre-law track, has served as webmaster for student government, as well as a member of several committees, including technology, public relations, and operations and procedures. In addition, he is involved in Golden Key National Honor Society and National Collegiate Scholars. Following graduation from Baylor, he plans to attend law school to study constitutional law and civil rights. A homeschooled student, Pierce is the son of Randall and Tammy Pierce of Dickinson and the grandson of Kenneth and Faye Pierce of Pasadena.