Juniors Stephany Ayestas and Ray Zhang were elected 2014-2015 Student Association international representatives.
Ayestas said her interest in the SA started when she saw females running for SA president last spring. She said this caused her to consider the position of vice president, which she jokingly expressed to SA vice president Joseph McManus last fall. When the effort to add the international representative amendment to the constitution this semester was underway, McManus approached her and told her about the possibility of running for that position.
According to SA secretary senior Kelli Mott, Zhang also had connection with the process since the fall semester.
“One of the things that really confirmed the need (to update the SA constitution) was that last fall, Ray Zhang came to one of our meetings, and he was telling us about some of the needs of Chinese students that we don’t necessarily think of,” Mott said.
Zhang suggested having direct international representation, SA President Tyler Gentry told Zhang it would not be possible this school year, but might be able to happen the following school year. Zhang told Gentry he would be part of it if it happened.
Ayestas said she would not have had time to campaign for international representative had the amendment passed earlier and the position been voted on with the other positions for next year. While the SA was trying to ratify the amendments, Ayestas was serving as Smiles For Christ president, helping with the Latin Festival and keeping up with classes.
Ayestas said her foal for her time as an International Representative as better integration between domestic students and international students. She also mentioned a need she heard from an African student to have easier options when it comes to housing during short breaks like Thanksgiving and Spring Break.
Zhang said part of his goal is helping international students adjust to the culture and the language as well as sharing God’s word with them.
“If you are a Christian, one of the most important things is to lead more and more people to know Christ and lead them to follow Christ and lead them to know how awesome Christ is,” Zhang said. “That’s what I want to do (with) my job as international representative.”
Zhang hopes to start an international Bible study, a division of Impact week specifically for international students, and initiate translation work to make it easier for international students to understand things when they first get to Harding.
Mott said she thinks Ayestas and Zhang will do a great job and set a high standard for successive SA international representatives.
“It’s been a long process, but I think we’re all proud of it; we’re all excited to finally see it come together, and we wish we could be here next year to be a part of the change,” Mott said.
