About Me
Greetings Falcons!
My name is Bernardo Macapagal, and I'm excited to announce my candidacy for president of the Fanshawe Student Union. I started my journey at Fanshawe in September 2023, excelling in the Interactive Media Design program, consistently recognized on the Dean's Honor Roll.
Throughout my college experience, I've been actively involved in student activities. My roles include serving as a Red Squad Member, Class Representative, Sharing Shop Staff, Bayanihan Club Officer, International Digital Ambassador, Fanshawe Friends Pod Leader, Open House Team Member, Orientation Leader, Convocation Usher, Event Ambassador, and Videographer.
I have completed several hours of volunteering, supporting thousands of students across all aspects of the college and contributing to numerous events across the London campuses. My exceptional service earned me the honor of being recognized as Volunteer of the Month. During this time, I immersed myself in FSU services, honed my professional skills, gained valuable student insights, and demonstrated unwavering dedication to the student community.
Goals
As I present my candidacy, I strive to lead the Fanshawe Student Union, guided by core principles such as student experience, community, advocacy, and communication. My vision prioritizes student well-being, affordability, campus consistency, enhanced support resources, more dynamic events, revitalized services, academic improvements, inclusivity, collaboration, and transparency.
Together, let's empower our diverse campus community, foster a welcoming student union, and drive impactful change. Vote for Bernardo to amplify student voices, elevate your college journey, and bring in the energy!
Why Vote For Me?
Passionate and Committed
I am wholeheartedly devoted to helping others and supporting the community, as it reflects my core values. This dedication is evident throughout my journey at Fanshawe. I feel elated each time I bring positive change to someone's life, whether it's brightening a student's day during an event, assisting a student navigating a course challenge, or supporting student success at showcases.
Striving for Excellence
Excellence drives everything I do. With record-breaking achievements in both the FSU and my program, I am committed to delivering impactful initiatives, driving meaningful projects, and achieving positive results. I do this by fostering collaboration, streamlining communication, and employing innovative approaches with agility to adapt to evolving challenges and opportunities.
Proven Leadership
My leadership expertise stems from coordinating team projects, pursuing various volunteer opportunities, managing a freelance creative business, and taking on leadership roles in high school. Additionally, I continuously enhance my professional development through programs like Fanshawe's Rising Leaders and certifications from LinkedIn Learning.
Community and Data-Driven
I am dedicated to ensuring that every decision and initiative is guided by student voices, backed by thorough research, and focused on achieving tangible results. Drawing insights from the college, student union, student alliances, and current trends, I develop analytical solutions that align with experiences and effectively address concerns.
Top Questions
What is the Fanshawe Student Union?
The FSU is the student body representative of Fanshawe College, supporting over 43,000 full-time students annually. The organization is committed to delivering excellent service to its diverse student community through events, advocacy, facilities, academics, finances, and student life.
What are the responsibilities of a student union president?
The Fanshawe Student Union president leads and advocates for student's rights and well-being, oversees organizational operations, drives policy reforms, promotes engagement through events and services, and represents students in institutional and governmental affairs.
How can students vote in the elections and when is the deadline?
Students can vote through FanshaweOnline from March 2, 2025, at 9:00 AM to March 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM. The voting link will be available on the FOL homepage via a pinned announcement. To cast your vote, simply click the link and choose the best candidates for each position.
How will you ensure all initiatives are implemented effectively?
I will provide regular progress updates on each initiative, setting clear timelines and measurable goals while upholding accountability and transparency. Monthly executive update videos and student voice events will be held to gather feedback, ensuring student input helps shape projects.
Will you continue the initiatives introduced by the previous executive team?
The previous executive team performed exceptionally during their term. I aim to continue and build upon their initiatives, ensuring long-term success. This includes expanding coverage to regional campuses, offering discounted downtown parking, publishing monthly executive minutes, enhancing affordability, providing entertainment and food services, increasing events, and supporting student initiatives.
How do you plan to increase awareness of the FSU?
I plan to increase awareness of the FSU through stronger promotion via involvement programs, expanded informative campus posters, the launch of a dedicated newsletter, strategic in-person marketing, closer collaboration with the college, and engaging online content. These efforts will ensure more students are informed and actively utilizing FSU services.
What steps are you taking toward environmental sustainability?
Preserving the environment is something I deeply care about. Therefore, promoting sustainability is a key focus of my campaign. This includes raising environmental awareness through events, eco-friendly projects, and partnerships while advocating for climate action, sustainable policies, zero-waste initiatives, and improved recycling efforts.
How will you address food insecurity among students?
Hundreds of students face hardships and food insecurity each year, making it essential to support programs like The Sharing Shop, the FSU's on-campus food bank. To assist with this, I propose organizing fundraisers and donation drives, collaborating with local food banks, advocating for more affordable meal plans, securing increased funding for food assistance programs, expanding student discount partnerships, and sharing food literacy and cooking tips through social media.
What is your approach to improving mental health support on campus?
Mental health is crucial for all students. To support this, I will organize events and community support groups to raise awareness and break the stigma. I will also advocate for increased funding for support services and collaborate with the wellness, athletics, and counseling departments to offer workshops. Additionally, I will launch a social media content initiative focused on fitness, nutrition, health, and sexual education to ensure students have better access to resources.
How will you work to improve transportation options for students?
I will advocate for enhanced public transit options, such as extended late-night bus hours, optimized routes, and improved customer support. Additionally, I will collaborate with the city and campus administration to make parking more affordable and accessible, both on campus and throughout the city, ensuring students have convenient and cost-effective commuting options.
How do you plan to support student career growth and professional development?
I will work closely with career services, local businesses, and guest speakers to enhance support for student employment, leadership development, and personal growth. This includes organizing expanded career fairs, networking events, and skill-building workshops to provide students with valuable opportunities for career advancement and professional development.
