Gerardo Alvarez is taking over at the helm of Beaufort County Community College’s Student Government Association. The experienced student leader will be helping with student activities and attending BCCC Board of Trustees meetings as the student representative.

Alvarez, 21, of Washington, started at BCCC in 2013 and is working on an Associate in Arts degree. Son of Lupita Gallego and Gerardo Alvarez, he also has one brother and two sisters. A graduate of Washington High School, Alvarez was extremely involved in student activities. He was a member of the SGA at Washington High, was on the soccer team for his first two years and the track team for his last two.

He wanted to join SGA because he did not want to let his experience at BCCC slip by him. At Washington High he liked going to meetings, and many of his friends also participated in it. He plans to get more students involved in SGA.

He is now enrolled full-time at BCCC and plans to transfer to East Carolina University to get a degree in marketing. He plans to pursue a career in fashion marketing after graduation. His schedule at BCCC allows him to balance being a full-time student with his work in the evenings at Washington Yacht & Country Club. He works as a waiter and recently also started bartending.

The SGA president is an ex-officio member of the BCCC Board of Trustees. He can attend meetings as the representative of the student body, though he does not have a vote. The SGA is responsible for putting on events throughout the year, such as cookouts and dances.