Students elected to IGNITE’s Board of Directors aim to give students a voice, foster positive change, and address issues such as diversity, inclusion and mental health.
Jack Pickett, North Campus candidate
Jack Pickett, one of the North Campus candidates for IGNITE's 2024-25 Board of Directors. Photo credit: IGNITE
Pickett told Humber News in a LinkedIn statement he wants to empower the Humber community and make students’ and staff’s voices heard.
“If elected, I plan on being all ears and hearing opinions and ideas from everyone. One of the biggest things that I want to do is foster how important community and connection are. We can do infinitely more together than we can apart,” he said in the statement.
Pickett hopes to start activities and initiatives to bring people together and belong in the Humber community.
“One thing I really want to push is to heighten attendance at Humber sporting events. It is an incredible atmosphere when it is a sold out crowd for a game and it really shows the pride that you have in your school.” he said.
Pickett also hopes to bring motivational speakers to speak to students, and more positivity on campus.
Jessica Carrera Valle, IGNITE North Campus Student Advocate
Jessica Carrera Valle, a North Campus student advocate at IGNITE. Photo credit: Jessica Carrera Valle
Jessica Carrera Valle tries to be present on campus, going out an engaging with students and discussing issues they are going through and what she can do to support them.
Valle said elections are important because students need to be able to vote for people with whom they can connect and identify with, as opposed to a dictatorship. For a Latina woman, Valle said it is hard to connect with the older, white men that typically fill leadership roles.
She said the Board of Directors can make positive change.
“I have a lot of faith in them [the students]. I think the best thing about IGNITE is we have a lot of student representation,” Valle said. “It’s the impact that we make on students. So, it’s important that we get real truth and real honesty when it comes to exactly what the students are looking for,”
She praised the diversity of IGNITE and said it gives students a lot more hope. She said they can find a leader within themselves. However, Valle said there should be more engagement from voters.
“From my personal view, I don’t think they’re as engaged as we were hoping. I feel like it really depends on how the candidates have made an impact in these students’ lives previously.”
For students who don’t have very much involvement on campus, she said it can be difficult for them to relate to the candidates and they don’t know if it will make a difference because things are not moving as quickly as they were hoping.
Onoriode Francis Osifo, Lakeshore Campus candidate
Onoriode Francis Osifo, one of the Lakeshore Campus candidates for IGNITE's 2024-25 Board of Directors. Photo credit: IGNITE
Onoriode Francis Osifo, one of the candidates from Humber’s Lakeshore Campus, said he hopes to get students more involved, feel more welcome, and included in things going on around campus.
“I hope to promote more diversity, equity and inclusion in all aspects regardless of the person’s identification,” Osifo said.
In addition to being a student in the Bachelor of Child and Youth Care program, Osifo is an outreach assistant with Black Student Support and Engagement (BSSE).
He will focus on international students, “I know they pay a lot of money to come to this country. I myself used to be an international student many years ago,” he said.
Mental health is a focus of his as well, since he feels it is under-discussed.
“I hope to raise more awareness with regards to mental health. I’ve heard a lot of people talk about how while on campus they don’t really like there’s a lot of talk about mental health really,” Osifo said.
“I see students as humans. As humans, humans deserve to be treated rightly.” he said.
Osifo said an important lesson from his program has been empathy, and would use an empathetic approach in his position on the Board of Directors.
“So, for me, I do not see anybody as unequal; I see everybody as equal. I believe that every student deserves a voice. I believe that every student deserves the best outcome of their stay at Humber College,” Osifo said.
Harleen Lamba, Lakeshore Campus candidate
Harleen Lamba, one of the Lakeshore Campus candidates for IGNITE's Board of Directors. Photo credit: IGNITE
Lamba told Humber News in a LinkedIn message that she wants to set students up for success.
“Alongside this, I want to bring a positive atmosphere by organizing networking events that enrich everyone’s college experience with new connections and diverse opportunities,” she said in the statement.
She said the Lakeshore campus students are the future, and have great excitement and passion for their careers.
“I know students at the Lakeshore campus will expand into success in the future,” Lamba said.
Michael Tahir, University of Guelph-Humber candidate
Michael Tahir, one of the University of Guelph-Humber candidates for IGNITE's 2024-25 Board of Directors. Photo credit: IGNITE
“Specifically, things I would build upon in the school are environment. [I would] prioritize accessibility, equity, and the overall student experience,” Tahir said.
Tahir also said he hopes to improve financial resources and work on investments into them.
He is part of the Best Buddies Club, a program working on inclusivity and making friendships with people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. His main motive for joining them is to put a smile on people’s faces. Being part of that club, he has seen accessibility and equity needs. So, he understands how Humber students can be best accommodated.
“I didn’t choose the Board of Directors life, the Board of Directors chose me,” he said.
Tahir said he enjoys seeing people grow, come together, and being part of the Best Buddies club. Saying, “Hi” to someone may not seem like it means a lot, but he said it can make a big difference in their day.
“It’s a community thing. It’s something I’ve always really enjoyed, to serve students.” Tahir said.