CLC student Regan Wegener, 18, is running for student trustee, with the term starting next fall semester.
Wegner has been a student at CLC since August 2024 and is studying to get her associate degree in applied sciences through the welding program.
“In high school I didn’t find myself sitting at a desk, working a 9-to-5 job and developing carpal tunnel,” Wegner said. “That’s just not something that I really had planned for myself. So, I wanted to do something with my hands.”
Wegner said her mother used to bring her stem projects from a program called Project Lead the Way. Building and putting these projects together influenced her with what she wanted to do. After being shown the projects that her friends were working on, she was convinced to join the welding program.
Wegner said that when she was in high school, she wasn’t involved within the community. However, she was part of some sports and had a couple of leadership roles that helped her develop. While in those roles, Wegener said she would get compliments from other players and coaches about her ability to motivate and lead a team.
Her supervisor position at the Great Wolf Lodge in Gurnee has also helped her broaden her views on leadership.
“I’m very big on safety,” Wegner said, “because that’s what I have to do on my day-to-day job. That’s what led me to become trustee. I want to hear people out and become that leader and build that relationship.”
The role of student trustee is considered the face and ultimately the voice of the students. The student would have to attend all board of trustee’s meetings at CLC. If the board were to ask the student trustee for their opinion, it would be their responsibility to reflect on what students feel as well as determine what is best for them. Though the role of student trustee does not have any voting power, their opinions are well respected.
The student trustee also has the responsibility of working with the Student Government Association to develop ways to communicate with students and make sure their needs are met.
Wegner said one thing she would like to do as a student trustee is advocate for painting on the walls. She would like to hold a fundraiser where the trustees and other donors would come and watch art majors paint art that would revolve around unity and diversity in CLC.
Wegner said her favorite parts on campus are the locations where there are art pieces and photography on the wall like the art department, the theater department, and by the photography department.
“It’s interesting to see that stuff,” Wegner said. “When you’re walking around with bland walls, it’s just like, ‘OK, I’m here another day.’”
Wagner added that she would like to find a way to promote more scholarships, events, clubs and organizations. She said she wants them to be more in view of the public and have them be easily available.
Being part of CLC has made her feel part of a community. She said she has learned that when you’re in a “community, you don’t have to know someone to help them out.”
“That’s what I want my college experience to be like,” Wagner said. “It’s better when you’re a part of something. The community here is absolutely amazing. Is there a little adjustment that we can possibly do to it? Yes. We’re a bit more divided than we are together.
“Everyone has their cliques, you know? The community should be working as a team, not so much as separated individuals.”
Wagner said it’s not going to be easy and that there should be someone who will give them the right direction to work with one another as a team.
“It’s not for one person,” Wagner said. “It’s for all of you.”
She noticed what the power of having a good leader could do when a new director showed up at her job. The difference with the new director was very noticeable to her. She wants to have a similar influence on others at the college.
“People are known to see and then do,” Wagner said. “So, if they see someone else do it, then they’ll take after it. That’s what I hope to be – a good representation for the students.”
When having to communicate with the administrators at CLC, Wagener said it’s not going to be easy. However, she would work on getting the input from students and make sure that if it’s something important that will affect them, they deserve a say on what happens.
“It’s important to know about it,” Wagner said. “Putting up flyers, talking to [students], sending emails and having one of the booths down at the student commons and be like ‘Hey, this is what’s going to be changing.’ There’s a lot of options that we can go about, but it’s also their initiative to be a part of it.”
With or without the position of student trustee, Wegner said she hopes to work with or be a part of SGA to make sure that people have “someone to lean on.”
There are two candidates running for student trustee Andrea Gomez and Regan Wegner. Elections are taking place March 10 to the 12 and the results will be announced on March 13.
