Ocean County College OceanViews Magazine 2026 Winter Volume 19 Issue 02 - Flipbook - Page 10
STUDENT STORIES / by Kaitlyn Light
STUDENTS LEADING CHANGE at OCC
Faculty and staff aren’t the only ones
making changes and breaking barriers
on campus. The students are doing so
themselves! As the vice president of the
Associated Students of Ocean County
College, OCC’s student government
association (SGA), Ryan Kanarkowski
says it best: “We have a priority on campus, and that is putting our students
first.” However, this isn’t something that
needs to be said, as it’s reflected in all
that they do. A simple search for SGA
on OCC’s website leads you to a webpage with a form for students to submit
concerns, proposals, or comments for
SGA to take action on their behalf. One
example of this is the Hygiene Supplies
Program. Ellie Dowek, president of
SGA, explains how they partnered with
FIPSE, a need-based grant on campus,
and the HUB “to provide funds for pads,
tampons, and liners to be distributed
to eighteen highly trafficked areas on
campus.” Ellie goes on to say, “I’m
proud to report we have distributed
over 7,115 products since September 3.”
“
We have a priority on campus,
and that is putting
our students first.
”
– Ryan Kanarkowski, vice president
of the Associated Students
of Ocean County College
They’re also consistently advocating on
behalf of students’ rights on campus and
giving the student population a voice,
as Ellie puts it, “the bridge between
students and the administration to push
real concerns forward and get practical
solutions on the table.” She provides a
recent example of students being falsely
flagged for AI use in assignments. SGA
brought this concern to the administration, resulting in a new governance committee for AI usage with direct student
representation.
Working with other organizations on
campus, like Phi Theta Kappa, SGA has
extended its reach beyond campus
through initiatives such as donating can
tabs to the Ronald McDonald House.
It’s also had a personal influence, Ryan
shares. “As a student, SGA has broken
many barriers for me. My confidence
is higher, my personal growth in marketing and networking with others
has skyrocketed, and my involvement
with other clubs, athletics, and honor
societies has shown that my outgoing
personality changes everything for all
of the right reasons.” Ellie echoes this
sentiment, explaining that SGA forced
her to branch out in ways she’d never
imagined before, and strengthened her
inner confidence as both a student and
an individual. Through SGA, barriers are
being broken down on and around campus, and for some, like Ryan and Ellie,
even within.
is] the bridge between students and the administration to
“ [SGA
push real concerns forward and get practical solutions on the table.
- Ellie Dowek, president of the Associated Students of Ocean County College
10 Winter 2026
”
