More than 50 people gathered to celebrate the inauguration of the new Student Government Association leaders.
The event took place last Wednesday in Salón Cassia on the Brownsville campus. There, students, family and staff members listened, some of them in tears, to the bilingual ceremony.
“We are very happy to have you all here so we can celebrate the new members of the SGA,” Alondra Galvan, who served as SGA president from 2017-2018, told the audience.
Galvan administered the oath of office to the new president and two vice presidents, who called their executive ticket Mission Possible during elections held Feb. 25 to March 1. Mission Possible received 611 of 993 votes. Their term of office will begin May 6.
“It is with great joy that we stand here today, ready to serve the student body and represent UTRGV,” Ingrid De La Torre, SGA president, said during the ceremony. “Since I can remember, my parents have always instilled important principles in my siblings and I. Coming from humble households, both my mom and dad agreed that the most treasured thing they could give us in life was education and a strong set of values.”
De La Torre also shared some of her favorite childhood memories, including how her parents would dress her as an elf during Christmas to go out and give presents to children in need.
“By setting an example, my parents taught me that even when you feel like you’re struggling, you will always be able to do or give someone just what they may need,” she said, choking back tears, as did some members of the audience. “I’m sharing these stories today because they are what have shaped me as a person and leader.”
De La Torre is described by her parents, José Cruz De La Torre and Yolanda De La Torre, as a person whose life purpose has always been to serve.
“We are very proud of her,” her mother said in Spanish. “We do all of our things with a lot of effort and dedication so we can be a better example for her, and this is the proof.”
Cruz De La Torre added, “She loves to serve. She is charismatic and honest, which are her main characteristics.”
The SGA president was also described as a strong, young woman who has gone through hardships but has always learned to continue
helping others.
“Ingrid has also been through difficult situations,” her mother said. “She has a brother in heaven, and so, every time we go through something difficult, we become a stronger person. I hope to see her as the president [of the United States] one day. Ingrid has a long way to go and I know that she can achieve everything she sets her mind to.”
Family and friends of De La Torre wore white clothes to show their support at her request.
During the ceremony, Rebecca Gadson, dean of students and associate vice president for Student Life, recited a quote from former First Lady Michelle Obama emphasizing the importance of bringing the UTRGV campus community together.
“People who are truly strong lift others up and people who are truly powerful bring others together,” Gadson said. “And when I think about our elected leaders this year, I think of the opportunity to bring our campus community together.”
Serving with De La Torre will be Roy Cantu, vice president for the Brownsville campus, and Alexandra Smith-Macias, vice president for the Edinburg campus.
“My daughter is a warrior and she will be wherever she has to be,” Cruz De La Torre said.
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