As the summer time drifts away and the 2026 to 2027 school year approaches, preparing student leaders for an impactful year of shaping student life at Houston City College is important. In doing so, leadership training is a crucial aspect of that readiness. Through gatherings, HCC Administration, Student Life Coordinators, and Advisors work together to ensure student leaders confidently transition to their new officer positions, inform them of the significance of their committed roles, and remind them of the mission of the student organization they are part of.
During the school year, student organizations such as the Student Government Association contribute to the HCC mission to make the community college experience count for each student enrolled. By offering a wide range of opportunities, students can connect with others, develop leadership skills, and get involved on campus. The HCC SGA serves as a bridge between student concerns and the administration, fosters a vibrant campus community by organizing engaging initiatives for students, and helps students find leadership opportunities by promoting campus activities and community service.
Recently, the effort student leaders and advisors put in through leadership training was showcased at the beginning of June. In ensuring the HCC Student Government Associations are successful in serving the student body at their respective colleges, newly elected SGA officers from the various HCC Colleges gathered for their first mandatory leadership training at the HCC Southeast College Student Life Center on Friday, June 6th. To begin preparing for the 2026-2027 school year, HCC Colleges, such as HCC Global Online College, Northwest College, Southwest College, Coleman College, and others, met for an informative meeting filled with a diverse group of motivated and passionate student leaders and supportive administrators.
The meeting began with meaningful opening remarks from the Southeast College President, Dr. Frances Villagran-Glover, followed by the Southeast Dean of Student Success, Dr. Martin Perez. Through their speeches, they highlighted the true significance of student voices and how the duty of the SGA officers plays a transformative role in shaping student success at HCC. Following this, the HCC SGA officers had the opportunity to connect with other student leaders through fun activities. They participated in groups doing icebreaker games such as Two Truths and A Lie and active listening games such as Don’t Touch the Color I Say among other team-building activities.
Additionally, lunch and refreshments were provided to help SGA officers nourish their bodies as they consumed important information. SGA Advisors presented officers with the ABC’s of SGA, which highlighted common acronyms in the Student Government Association that student leaders will see or hear frequently throughout their term. The HCC SGA Constitution, as well as the SGA officer stipend requirements and agreement, were carefully reviewed with the officers to make sure they are aware of the significant commitment they are making.
The meeting concluded with closing remarks from the HCC Central Campus Student Life Coordinator, Karl Mays. Mr. Mays made some strong remarks about the importance of complete presence in leadership. “Be where your feet are,” Mr. Mays said. To remind student leaders of the importance of being the best version of themselves in any room or space they enter, and recommending that leaders should always remember to stay completely aware and focused in the moment. He also emphasized the idea of leaving your rearview mirror, meaning leaders shouldn’t waste time looking back or dwelling on the past. Instead, they should focus on the present and what’s in front of them. Mr. Mays’ speech, the HCC Administration’s remarks, and the Student Life Coordinators’ presentation and activities during this first training and the others to come will all serve a purposeful role in inspiring and propelling leaders with the motivation they need as they commit to serving the HCC student body for the 2026 to 2027 school year.
