The Student Government Association inaugurated a new president, executive board and general assembly Wednesday evening in Carter Hall.

Adrianna Garcia, 2022-2023 administrative vice president of the Equity, Diversity and Inclusion committee, was elected 2023-2024 SGA president by the study body in the first contested SGA presidential election in five consecutive academic years. 

Brayden Webster, 2022-2023 executive vice president, also ran in the Spring 2023 SGA presidential election. The election ballots were emailed to all students around 8 a.m. April 18 and closed around 11:59 p.m. April 21. 

Garcia was inaugurated along with the newly elected 2023-2024 staff where all of the new members swore their commitments under oath to SGA. 

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to take on this position, and I hope that we have a great year and we accomplish amazing things,” Garcia said. 

Taegan Garner, 2022-2023 SGA president, was elected president during the uncontested Spring 2022 SGA election. After the April 2022 SGA inaugural ceremony, Garner said, “We have to get to a point where people can feel like they can run, and I really want to help with that next year.” 

Garner and Webster hosted the inaugural ceremony.  

“I just really want to thank all the members of the 2022-2023 SGA,” Garner said. “You guys have all made this year so much fun.”

Garner said she has enjoyed serving as SGA president. 

“There’s never been a day that I don’t like my job because I do it for all of you,” Garner said. “You all have been fantastic members. I have watched you all grow.”

Garner gave Garcia the key to USI during the inauguration. Garner said it is an annual procedure for the former SGA president to present the key to USI to the new SGA president. 

Webster said Garner has been a good leader as SGA president. 

“She is very different from previous presidents,” Webster said. “She’s done a lot of cleaning up of the organization, trying to make it better for not only just SGA members, but so that way, general students can have their voices heard in a more accessible and easier format.”

Garcia said the executive branch of SGA put in hard work to make sure the organization is “set up for success” next year. 

Garcia said she is excited to see all SGA accomplishes in the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Garner said she thinks Garcia will do a good job as SGA president. 

“Adrianna is gonna do a great job,” Garner said. “The nice thing is, we’ve all worked together all year. I’m 100% confident that she is ready to take over and run with that.”