Elected as the Student Government Association’s (SGA) acting President for the 24-25 school year, Allison Meese is excited to help her fellow students and further her own education.
Allison was raised in Robinson, Illinois—a small town in Crawford County, just south of Mattoon. Of her experiences there, she said, “Growing up there taught me the value of lending a hand, treating people with respect and putting in the effort to reach your goals.” This lesson, and others, further ingrained themselves during her mission trip to Nicaragua in 2024. There, she learned to live simply and how to use her blessings to best help others—an experience that “opened [her] eyes.”
That very desire to aid others ultimately drove Allison’s decision to join the SGA. “What I enjoy most about being on SGA,” she later said, “is having the opportunity to advocate for student needs and work toward making a positive difference on campus. I love knowing that the ideas we bring forward can help improve student life and create lasting change.”
In the SGA’s weekly meetings (which are open to the public!), Allison takes charge, considering what would be best for the student body in the long term with the aid of the other delegates. During the interview, she stated that “[Lake Land College] feels like a place where everyone wants you to succeed,” and “I truly believe I am getting the best education and experiences possible.” It is only natural, then, that she would want to contribute.
“I want my legacy at Lake Land College to reflect service, leadership and faith,” Allison went on to say. “I want my time here to inspire future students to pursue their passions with confidence, to build community, and to give back in ways that extend beyond the classroom. Through my involvement in student government, Collegiate Farm Bureau, Ag Transfer Club, Student Activity Board, PAS and my internships, I want to leave behind an environment of collaboration and encouragement, showing that students can step up, lead and make a difference on campus.”
To incoming freshmen, Allison suggests getting involved as much as possible—and not just joining the clubs, but being an active participant. “The more you put into these groups, the more you’ll get out of them, whether that’s building friendships, gaining leadership experience or finding opportunities you didn’t even know existed,” she said.
As a Lake Land College student, I cannot help but cheer Allison on, and look forward to what she will bring to the table!
