AUSA 2025-26 Senator Projects

Each year, members of the Andrews University Student Association (AUSA) Senate are required to complete a campus-wide project that works to improve the student experience. This year, as the executive vice president of AUSA, I had the privilege of managing 27 senators as they completed great projects all around campus. Each project has a label indicating that it was “donated by the AUSA Senate 2025-26,” so keep an eye out for them around campus. Below is a list of each project and the senators who accomplished them.

      1. Feminine products in various campus bathrooms: Rohannah Riley (junior, elementary education) and Celeste Velinova (junior, digital communications)

For this project, Riley and Velinova placed baskets of free menstrual products in the women’s bathrooms in Buller Hall, Nethery Hall, Harrigan Hall, and Bell Hall for students to use.

      2. Cookware for Burman Kitchen: Yuseli Ochoa (senior, Spanish and speech-language pathology and audiology) and Niels ten Caat (sophomore, history)

For this project, Ochoa and ten Caat placed a new 23-piece nonstick ceramic cookware set in University Towers for students to check out and use.

      3. Games for Lamson Hall: Nora Jean-Francois (junior, psychology), Shannon Barrow (sophomore, computer engineering), and Melody Pemberton (junior, history and secondary education)

For this project, senators purchased new board and card games (Uno, Dutch Blitz, Monopoly and Apples to Apples) to replace old games. Students can check out the games from the Lamson front desk to enjoy with their friends.

      4. Study Bible Guides: Pau Khual (freshman, theology) and John Hakobyan (senior, computer science and history)

For this project, senators provided free Bible study guides for small groups to give students the resources needed to study the Word and grow in their faith. Students were encouraged to fill out the form the senators created in order to obtain a copy of the guide through the Center for Faith and Engagement (CFE).

      5. Nintendo Switch and Games: Zachary Kis (sophomore, aviation) and Dean Caleb (sophomore, psychology)

For this project, senators purchased a Nintendo Switch and the games “Mario Kart” and “Super Smash Bros” for students to play in the AUSA recreational center downstairs in the campus center. Students can check the switch out at the front desk in the rec center.

      6. PlayStation 5 (PS5) Headphones and Games: Donnie Vanterpool (senior, information systems) and Dean Caleb

For this project, senators purchased headphones for students to use while playing the PS5 in the AUSA recreational center downstairs in the campus center. They also added the games “EA Sports College Football 25” and “NBA 2K” to the PS5 and advocated for better ways to check out equipment from the rec center front desk.

      7. Sports Equipment Replacement in Meier Hall: Raymond Manento (senior, computer science)

For this project, Manento replaced the basketballs and footballs found at the Meier front desk that students check out to use outside and ensured the proper storage and maintenance of the new equipment.8

      8. New Ping Pong Table: Jonathan Pelote (freshman, theology), Kika Augusta (freshman, architecture), and Mugabe Menani (junior, nursing)

For this project, senators replaced the old ping pong table downstairs in the AUSA recreational center to enhance students’ experience with a newer, durable table.

      9. Lamson Hall Courtyard Picnic Table: Brenna Lyons (junior, art and French), Valorie Pratley (freshman, sustainable horticulture), and Marky Telemaque (sophomore, political science and Spanish)

For this project, senators purchased and built a wooden picnic table to place in Lamson Hall’s cafeteria-side courtyard for students to enjoy on nice days when they need a break from studying.

      10. SBSS Labianca Library: Audrey Lim (junior, sociology), Kaitlyn Yanez (sophomore, psychology), and Chrisan Valcin-Henry (senior, sustainable horticulture)

For this project, senators purchased new books to add to the Social Sciences and Behavioral Sciences Library on the second floor of Buller to provide diverse literary resources that reflect the experiences of various communities (Asian American, Latinx, Afro-Caribbean social movements, etc). They also purchased happy lights for the library, which assist with seasonal depression among library patrons.

      11. Chapel Scanner Advocacy: Asha Caruthers (freshman, chemical engineering), Dévaneé Williams (sophomore, music composition), and Pierce Barrett (freshman, mechanical engineering)

For this project, senators worked with CFE to create a survey to gather student opinions on the current scanning-in and out methods used at Faith360 programs.

“I’m proud of all that the senators were able to accomplish this year,” said Patricia Fitting, assistant dean for co-curricular education and AUSA Senate mentor. “I believe they did a great job in providing some useful, fun, and positive projects to enhance campus life,” she said, despite the challenges that came with the process of choosing and gaining approval for their projects.

If you have any questions about the AUSA Senate or are interested in joining the AUSA Senate next year, follow our new AUSA Senate Instagram page @ausa.senate for more information.