NYCC’s New SGA Leaders Talk Vision and Goals
NYCC's new Student Government Association (SGA) leaders Executive President Cal Forster, Executive Vice President Sam Weichel and Executive Secretary / Treasurer Abigail Werner began their one-year term with the start of the Winter 2021 Trimester in early January.
All Doctor of Chiropractic students with a 2023 graduation date, Forster, Werner and Weichel agree on their official start date but say they were busy putting their heads together to share their vision and goals as soon as they were elected in November 2020.
New York natives, Forster, from Long Island, and Werner, from nearby Honeoye Falls, are both in their second trimester of study. Weichel, from Ontario, Canada, is in his fourth trimester. While they each have different reasons for participating in student leadership, they all have a common vision for their time as SGA leaders.
Strengthening Relationships
With faculty and administration having such an important impact on students, the three leaders want to do their part to strengthen these on-campus relationships. They also want to create opportunities for students to connect with as many alumni role models and peers as possible.
They especially want to focus on the dos and don'ts of building a successful career. "We want to talk about life after NYCC and hear more of the success stories and how (alumni) have made their businesses (and careers) work," Forster said, adding that they aim to connect students with alumni, both via Zoom and in-person when possible.
Forster, Werner and Weichel are also looking into new ways for students to connect by working with participants of the many different clubs on campus. "We want to be part of it all and help make a difference," Weichel said.
Meet NYCC's SGA Leaders
Cal Forster (D.C. '23)
Executive President
Hometown: Dix Hills, Long Island, NY
Undergrad: bachelor's degree in kinesiology movement, Penn State
Upon graduation, Forster will be the third chiropractor in his family to earn a degree from NYCC. His father attended the College when it was located in Long Island, and his grandfather graduated from the Columbia Institute of Chiropractic -- NYCC before its name change in the 1970s. Forster felt he could put this lineage to good use as a student leader. After all, he does have a bit of "insider info:" even before becoming a student he'd visited the NYCC campus several times, attended post-grad seminars and is well acquainted with many of the professors
Sam Weichel (D.C. '23)
Executive Vice President
Hometown: Southampton, Ontario, Canada
Education: studied geography and environmental management, University of Waterloo, Ontario, currently earning his Bachelor of Professional Studies at NYCC
Working as a geotechnical engineer building roads in New Zealand (yes, where the Lord of the Rings was filmed!), Weichel thought he could add a different perspective to the SGA leadership team at NYCC. He looks forward to working on building peer relationships among students and is eager to be part of creating on-campus events once the pandemic ends, to help accomplish this goal. His career goal is to open his own practice "back home" in Ontario.
Abigail Werner (D.C. '23)
Executive Secretary / Treasurer
Hometown: Honeoye Falls, NY
Undergrad: associate degree, administrative professional, Finger Lakes Community College (FLCC)
The president of the fencing club at FLCC when she attended, Werner has always been comfortable in leadership positions and felt this experience would allow her to benefit her chiropractic class. Before coming to NYCC, Werner worked for three years as a finance specialist at Comfort Keepers, a provider of in-home senior care. Werner said she liked working with the elderly and hopes she will be able to work with this population again as a chiropractor. She also looks forward to working with children and expecting mothers as she is a trained doula.