Adarian Williams, Student Government Association president at Grambling State, traveled to Washington D.C. this past week for a week of leadership development.
Williams went as a member of The Louisiana Council of Student Body Presidents (COSBP), an organization formed to promote communication among the students and member schools of the LSU school system, the SU, and UL system, and LCTC system, to further academic interest and to support the advancement of higher education.
As a representative for college and university student bodies, it is in their best interest to convey the opinions, wishes, and needs of students to the Louisiana Board of Regents, of which Williams was appointed to last year.
It is also the intentions of the COSBP to execute measures that improve the lives of students and to build and maintain strong relationships with member student groups.
Accompanying Williams on the trip were presidents of the Louisiana Council of Student Body, their system advisors, and other representatives of the Board of Regents.
The trip to D.C., lasting approximately for four days, granted he and his colleagues the opportunity to tour the White House and U.S. Capitol. Other landmarks they got to explore was the recently opened National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Smithsonian museums, and the Library of Congress.
In between their leisure time, the crew met with a lieu of politicians and representa- tives to discuss topics regarding the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), federal policies, FASFA and student loan forgiveness, college affordability, and other ways to advance education in the state of Louisiana.
Among those engaged in conversation was Governor of Louisiana John Bel Edwards, Senator Bill Cassidy, Congressman Ralph Abraham, and Mayor elect of New Orleans, LA Latoya Cantrell. The current mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu and members of U.S. Department Board of Education were also in to discuss their plans for education in Louisiana and stackability credentials.
“I had an incredible experience from actively networking and engaging,” Williams said of his trip. “It is with hopes,” he says of his wishes to return to D.C. in the summer to intern at the U.S. Capitol.
Adarian Williams, Student Government Association president at Grambling State