SGA honors late UTRGV chef

The UTRGV Student Government Association met Friday at the Student Academic Center on the Edinburg campus to pass a courtesy resolution regarding a university chef and to update the student body on two pieces of legislation.

Juana Elena Jimenez L., current Student Government Association vice president for External Affairs, presented a courtesy resolution honoring the late Chef Leonard Reese, who worked on the Brownsville campus.

Reese worked at UTRGV for eight years and was a Le Cordon Bleu culinary school graduate. 

Jimenez said she wants to honor Reese by signing and sending his family the resolution.

“What we want to do after this, hopefully, we want to print it out, have it signed and send it to his family, so they know that we, as the student body, are grateful and appreciate the hard work he gave to students,” she said. 

Joshua Sauceda, senator for the College of Liberal Arts, requested a direct vote on the resolution. 

The resolution passed.

Odalys Saenz, SGA president, announced updates on two legislations.

“As of April 10 of 2024, I have approved and signed two legislations,” Saenz said during the president’s report. “One courtesy resolution for the [Robert C. Vackar College of Business and Entrepreneurship] and the legislation, legislation transparency.”

Evans Nyanney, chair of the Financial Affairs Standing Committee and Graduate College senator, reported on three applications for student travel funds.

“The committee met on April 5, 2024, to review three summer applications for student travel funds comprised of one individual and two group applications,” Nyanney said. 

“In accordance [with] our guidelines, the committee approved all three of the applications,” Nyanney said.

Jimenez said some Tea Co. products are now available at The Market on the Brownsville campus.

She said they met with Campus Auxiliary Services, who told them that The Market on the Brownsville campus has Tea Co. products.

“They’re selling them little by little just to see how they’re gonna sell there,” Jimenez said.

Kourtnie Hernandez, SGA program coordinator, reported on the SGA election results and the SGA inauguration ceremony. 

“We had a turnout of 5.4% of the student vote, which is really good in my opinion,” Hernandez said.

She said the welcoming ceremony for the newly elected members of SGA was scheduled for 3 p.m. Wednesday in Salón Cassia on the Brownsville campus.   

Earlier in the meeting, Saenz said the Distinguished Speakers Series Committee is looking for students to join.

“University committee Distinguished Speaker Series is looking for an [undergraduate] and graduate student,” Saenz said. “If you’re interested, please apply for your appointment.”

Students can send an email to studentactivities@utrgv.edu for more information.