The Herald Online

Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News

Media Credit: Ashley Helliwell Vice president-elect Kimberly Winchester and incumbent Ryan Beaird embrace after being told they had defeated candidates Lark Little and Adrian Everett

Media Credit: Ashley Helliwell

As the polls came to a close on Wednesday afternoon, Ryan Beaird and Kimberly Winchester took a sigh of relief and waited for the election results in the SGA office.

Within a couple hours, the news was delivered via text message: Beaird and Winchester will "Still Serve by Example."

"I'm sleep deprived and excited. It's a weird combination of both; it's amazing," said Beaird, a 21-year-old business major from Sikeston, Mo.

For Beaird and the SGA, this was a record-breaking election. Not only was the student voter turnout the largest seen in recent years, but he is also the first student to be elected as president for two consecutive terms.

"I'm glad to have the opportunity, again. I loved it so much this year and I couldn't imagine my senior year without being president," Beaird said. "Beyond the record-breaking stuff, I'm just excited to do it again."

Winchester, a 19-year-old chemistry major from Jonesboro, is thrilled about her opportunity to serve as vice-president.

"I have never felt this excited about anything in my entire life," Winchester said. "I'm really glad to be here and that the students voted for us."

The campaign trail was not an easy one for the two, beginning with 19-hour days and ending with standing in the cold to reach voters on the final day of voting.

"We probably had 100 volunteers that contributed directly, if not more," Beaird said. "We worked probably an average of 21 hours a day for the past three or four days."

Beaird and Winchester's partnership didn't develop overnight, but instead came from a long friendship.

"She (Winchester) has definitely got the most amazing work ethic of anyone that I've seen in my life," Beaird said. "I knew we would get along and we can get a lot done."

Winchester spoke very highly of Beaird and said she is very happy to have been chosen as a running mate to help with his administration in the year to come.

"Ryan is a really great guy and has been a wonderful president for SGA," Winchester said. "I think he has done wonderful things and he will continue to do great things for us at Arkansas State."

The opposing team consisted of Lark Little, a senior nursing major from Jonesboro, and Adrian Everett, sophomore chemistry major from McGehee.

After the results were posted, Little said that she was excited to see the amazing voter turnout and can't wait to see what Beaird will do for SGA and the campus in the year to come.

"I am completely satisfied with how the election turned out," Little said. "I feel like we ran a good, clean campaign and it is one that we can be proud of."

Beaird and Winchester have high hopes for their upcoming term, and hope to add even more enthusiasm to the SGA.

"We're going to put more excitement and energy into the organization, if that is possible," Beaird said. "You can expect big things; pure representation.

"We're going to sit back down with the officials that I spoke with to make sure that it is possible. Quan and I had the first discussion with them, now we are going to incorporate Kimberly's work ethic and leadership, and we'll finish through."

Beaird refers to the final hours of the campaign as "a sprint to the finish line."

"We gave it our all," Winchester said. "I'm excited and relieved and I can't believe I am the vice president - elect!"

The newly elected officers will be sworn in on April 14, but the incumbent has never been re-elected, therefore Beaird expects Quan Poole, the current vice president, to act in his place for the ceremony.

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