Gadsden, AL – In a passionate refutation of the myth that community colleges don’t offer an enriching student experience, Caity Daniel, hailing from Oxford and Oxford, firmly asserts “If you’re looking to have fun, you’ll definitely have fun at a local college.” At the moment, she is in charge of President of the Student Government Association (SGA) at Gadsden State Community College, Daniel is on a quest to promote unity and fun for students.
Daniel 19 years old, Daniel has a wealth of leadership experience. She previously been president of the SGA head in Walter Wellborn High School, which she graduated from in 2022. In a bid to keep her active on campus, Daniel eagerly embraced the possibility of leading in the SGA in Gadsden State.
“I am hoping to see a sense of unification among the teams in Gadsden State. We get together and begin acquainted with one another. I’m urging others to get out of their clubs and see the other clubs’ offerings. provide,” she shares with enthusiasm.
In addition to her position being SGA President, Daniel also serves as a participant in Baptist Campus Ministries, a resident assistant in Fowler Hall (the College’s on-campus dormitory) and, most importantly Gadsden State’s official mascot: Swoop. In describing what she experiences with Swoop she says, “It’s a lot of enjoyable to attend events on campus and to go out in the community as Swoop. The kids are awestruck by Swoop. They are very excited when they are able to see Swoop.”
In her first term during her first semester as SGA President, Daniel played a pivotal part in events such as Get On Board Day, connecting students to campus groups and clubs. When reflecting on her experiences, she recollects, “I met a lot of people who were willing to assist. We’ve witnessed SGA participation grow. We typically meet at least once per month to discuss our events and thoughts.”
As the chairman of the executive committee, along with Sabri Ross, and Tanner Boyd, vice presidents for the Gadsden and Ayers campuses as well, Daniel has organized successful events like events like the Halloween Dance and Christmas Movie Night and has helped to create the sense of community in Gadsden Students at the State.
“Our events have been successful so far. Everyone was particularly impressed with our Halloween Dance. It was a lot of fun to socialize with fellow students on that night. I got to meet a lot of people I had never met before. We’re planning another dance party in Gadsden State.” She says.
In addition to her campus activities, Daniel is actively involved in Breakaway Ministries and the Dream Center where she spends time for providing food to students, teaching Bible classes, as well as offering opportunities for arts and crafts.
In encouraging her fellow students, Daniel stresses “Get out and meet new people. Build friendships with people who aren’t in the walls of your classroom. Find a friend who you can trust to aid you in building your community.”
Although she initially considered the business field as a major, Daniel has since shifted her attention to the pursuit of a teaching career. She is planning to pursue the elementary school in Jacksonville State University after graduating from Gadsden State.
“I could not imagine what I could do with a degree in business. I pondered, “what’s most likely to leave me feel happy?’ I’ve always been a child lover. I decided that education was the best path for me. I needed to make a commitment and believe that it would be fine. As of now, I’m happy by my decision to study at Gadsden State as well as my career plan,” she concludes with happiness.
