Meet the Candidates

• At-Large Senator

As an At-Large Senator I hope to be able to provide more opportunity for resolutions to be heard on the senate floor that will represent the constituency at large, and to vote in popular favor of campus sentiment on resolutions

• At-Large Senator

My name is Cedar and I'm a freshman on campus this fall majoring in Broad Field Social Studies! During high school I was on leadership teams of 4 different activities, and strived to make sure everyone' s opinion and voice was able to be heard. In running for SGA, that is my main goal as well, to give people a voice and allow others to share ideas and have them be proposed at meetings that can make a difference in our community. I want to be as involved in campus as possible through different organizations and opportunities, to meet others and to have fun at the same time. Getting to know other people and being a friendly face that people can come to for help, questions, or comments is super important in allowing a community to thrive. 

• At-Large Senator

I grew up working on my family's dairy farm in Northwest Wisconsin. That, as well as a slate of organizations, have helped teach me the importance of hard work. Additionally, my time in leadership roles with organizations such as FFA, RLHS Young Republicans, and Rice Lake Media Team taught me the importance of communication in being a strong leader. As a class representative, I fought for the interests of the student body. I have been active in my community and intend to be active as a member of the UWRF student body, making sure that I always stand for the interest of our students and the importance of common sense. 

• At-Large Senator
• Student Inclusion and Belonging (SIB) Senator

None Provided

• CEBAH Senator
• Student Inclusion and Belonging (SIB) Senator

Hello,

Hello, my name is Elijah Knoblauch and I am a Sophomore. I am currently switching my major from English Education to Marketing and Communications with a WGSS minor. I believe strongly in helping communities around me succeed, and I plan to keep that attitude as the SIB Senator. Over the summer I worked as a Summer Conference Assistant with Residence Life and got to learn more about how that department works, especially over the summer while students are gone. Also, you may have seen me on campus the week before classes started as I was a My First Steps mentor for the Jumpstart program. That role was working directly with the SIB coordinator and advisor, May Xiong. Throughout the year, I will be working on campus as a Peer Success Coach in the Student Success Center and at the Johnson/Prucha Hall Hubs. But outside of school, I work passionately with an organization in Minnesota called TIGERRS. TIGERRS stands for Transgender, Intersex, Gender Expansive Revolutionary Resources and Services, which they are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; the organization works hard to create and provide free resources and services to gender diverse folks in Minnesota. For this organization I am a part of Core Crew, Communications, Fundraising, and Recruiting. I love the work I do for this organization and hope to bring the things I have learned with them into being a senator for the school. Making sure minority groups are heard and that they have a strong voice on campus is important to me. Thank you to everyone on campus who works hard for what they believe in and what they are passionate about.

Elijah Knoblauch
He/Him/His
Marketing and Communications | Class of 2029
Peer Success Coach | Student Success Center
Hall Hub Assistant

• At-Large Senator
• CAFES Senator
• On-Campus Senator

My name is Ella Ranes, and I am a Freshman majoring in Animal Science along the Pre-Vet path in the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences. I am running to represent CAFES in the Student Government Association because I believe every student deserves to feel heard, supported, and connected to the decisions that affect their college experience.
My background in smalltown Marshfield, Wisconsin with a large family and surrounded by farms for miles, as well as my experience volunteering at horse ranches, veterinary clinics, farms, and schools, namely through the Animal Wildlife Empowerment Society as the founder and President, the Library Advisory Committee as a Vice President and Secretary, and Swim Team as a captain has shaped my understanding of the importance of community, service, and representation. Through my experiences as an advocate to the animal and natural world around us, I have developed strong communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. These experiences have also helped me understand that effective leadership is not only about speaking for others, it's about listening carefully, building trust, and following through.
As a representative for CAFES, I will work to ensure that the voices and experiences of students across our college are included in student government conversations. CAFES is made up of students with diverse interests and goals, including agriculture, environmental science, food systems, natural resources, business, education, and other related fields. I want to represent that diversity by creating opportunities for students to share their concerns, ideas, and priorities.
I plan to provide representation in several ways:
- Listening to students: I will make myself available through conversations, student organization meetings, surveys, and informal feedback opportunities so students can share what matters most to them.
- Communicating clearly: I will keep CAFES students informed about SGA discussions, campus initiatives, resources, and decisions that may affect them.
- Advocating for student needs: I will bring student concerns forward respectfully and consistently, especially issues involving academic resources, campus facilities, transportation, student wellness, affordability, and opportunities for involvement.
- Building collaboration: I will work with CAFES student organizations, faculty, staff, and representatives from other colleges to promote cooperation and find practical solutions.
- Representing every student: I will make an effort to include students who are involved in campus activities as well as those who may not always have a direct connection to student leadership.
If elected, some of my goals would include improving communication between CAFES students and SGA, increasing awareness of specific academic and career resources, supporting student organizations, and creating more opportunities for students to connect with one another and with professionals in their fields. I would also like to support initiatives related to sustainability, mental health, career preparation, experiential learning, and stronger connections between classroom learning and real-world opportunities.
Most importantly, I want students to know that I would approach this position with responsibility, openness, and a willingness to learn. I will not claim to have every answer, but I will commit to listening, asking questions, and working to make meaningful progress. My goal is to be a dependable advocate for CAFES and to help ensure that our college is represented with purpose, professionalism, and pride!
I am asking for your support because I care about the CAFES community and want to contribute to making the student experience stronger for everyone. As your representative, I will strive to be approachable, engaged, and accountable while working to make sure your ideas and concerns have a voice in student government.
Vote for Ella to represent the College of Agriculture, Food, and Environmental Sciences in the Student Government Association!!!

• At-Large Senator
• CAFES Senator
• On-Campus Senator

CAFES:

Hello everyone! I’m Evan Retzlaff, and I am super excited to run for a Senate position in SGA. I care about representing the people who vote me into office, and I take that responsibility seriously. I take concerns and issues seriously, and I will always advocate for everyone, even the minority. I’m a down-to-earth guy who likes results and likes to say it how it is, not to offend people, but to make sure the issue is understood. When representing students, I want to make sure we have the specifics figured out and that everyone affected by an issue has a voice. 

Last year, I served as an FFA State Officer as the Parliamentarian, where I learned just how important policy, procedure, and wording can be when trying to accomplish something. Sometimes one word in a policy can make a huge difference in its impact, and I want to bring that experience to SGA. 

If you don’t know me, I’m a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Education and am a big agricultural fanatic. I raise everything from sheep and cattle to chickens and pigs, and I absolutely love plants. I’m pretty confident I can tell you a fun fact about almost anything agriculture-related, and probably a few things that aren’t. 

As a CAFES Senator, I want to work with clubs, organizations, and students throughout CAFES to hear their viewpoints and concerns. One issue I especially want to follow is the proposed Agricultural Science building project. I want to make sure the building has the technology and resources needed to be an effective learning environment, while also making sure students’ concerns about the cost of the project are heard and that we understand how it could affect tuition and other student costs. I also want to help make the transition into other buildings during construction as smooth as possible. With it being a budget year, I will also advocate for college student support from the state government and work to make sure our voices are heard at the state level. 

I’m pretty easygoing, I love hearing other people’s ideas, and I’m always willing to have a conversation. If there’s an issue, I want students to know they can come talk to me, so we can come up with a logical solution together.

On-Campus Senator and Senator At-Large:

Hello everyone! I’m Evan Retzlaff, and I am super excited to run for a Senate position in SGA. I care about representing the people who vote me into office, and I take that responsibility seriously. I take concerns and issues seriously, and I will always advocate for everyone, even the minority. I’m a down-to-earth guy who likes results and likes to say it how it is, not to offend people, but to make sure the issue is understood. When representing students, I want to make sure we have the specifics figured out and that everyone affected by an issue has a voice.

Last year, I served as an FFA State Officer as the Parliamentarian, where I learned how important policy, procedure, and wording can be when trying to accomplish something. Sometimes one word in a policy can make a huge difference in its impact, and I want to bring that experience to SGA.

I’m a sophomore majoring in Agricultural Education and am a big agricultural fanatic. I raise everything from sheep and cattle to chickens and pigs, and I absolutely love plants. I’m pretty confident I can tell you a fun fact about almost anything agriculture-related, and probably a few things that aren’t.

As a Senator, I want to hear directly from students about the issues that affect them, whether that is housing, dining, campus resources, costs, education, or something that may simply be getting overlooked. I want students to feel comfortable bringing their concerns and ideas to me, and I’ll work with SGA, other students, and campus organizations to bring those issues forward and find practical solutions.

I’m pretty easygoing, I love hearing other people’s ideas, and I’m always willing to have a conversation. If there’s an issue, I want students to know they can come talk to me, so we can come up with a logical solution together.

• At-Large Senator
• CAFES Senator
• On-Campus Senator

None Provided

• CAFES Senator

I am a 3rd-year Animal Science major. I have been a part of Student Government Association for two years now as an At-Large senator. I enjoy being a member of student government and look to advance my role as the CAFES Senator. I am very active in CAFES student organizations and have a good understanding of the college. I feel that I am a qualified candidate for this position. 

• CAFES Senator

Hello! My name is Jasmine Gumtow and I come from the great state of Wisconsin near Lambeau field! I have a deep rooted love for agriculture and I am going to college for agricultural education and a minor in agricultural business. I have held different membership and leadership positions and I think that would make me an amazing candidate for a senator in the student government association! 

• CAFES Senator
• At-Large Senator

None Provided

• At-Large Senator
• Student Inclusion and Belonging Senator
• On-Campus Senator

Hello,

My name is Mykola Gralish and I am a freshman this year, and am starting my Chemistry major. I am running for the Student Involvement and Belonging Senator position, because I’m passionate about creating a space where every student feels valued and that their voice matters. I have direct experience in combining both inclusion and governance. I served as Secretary for R.E.A.C.H. which stands for Racial Equity and Cultural Harmony, and helped to plan and oversee everything from community events to painting pride murals on hallways walls.  I was also my school’s State Steering Committee Chair for the YMCA Center for Youth Voice Programs. It was my job to not only represent my school’s interests on the Elections Committee, but also to help direct and guide the other participants. I tried my best to make sure I was available whenever I was needed for anything from how to file for office to help looking for research sources, even if that meant answering texts at midnight on the weekend. At Youth in Government and Model United Nations, I got to be an appointed official twice.  I worked as a committee chair at MUN and media at YIG. There, I gained experience in facilitating debate and seeking out multiple perspectives on the same topics.

My civic engagement goes beyond just school programs as well. I got to be an ambassador for the Youth Voter Project and encourage/help students preregister to vote, and during the 2024 presidential election, I got to work as a Trainee Election Judge, getting to experience and ensure a fair voting process in my community. During my senior year, a friend of mine and I got an amazing opportunity to work and collaborate with Senator Heather Gustafson and her research team for a funding grant on behalf of my school.

Thank you for your consideration,
Mykola Gralish
lucy.gralish@

• At-Large Senator
• Student Inclusion and Belonging Senator
• On-Campus Senator

My name is Nicole. I am a freshman majoring in Pre-Veterinary studies at the University of Wisconsin River Falls. 

I am interested in exploring ways to invite more inclusion and diversity to our campus. I want to help realize ideas to make living on campus more accessible and comfortable; such as possible air conditioning in more dorm buildings. I am a great listener, and I am passionate about being a voice for those who need one. 

• At-Large Senator
• CEBAH Senator
• Student Inclusion and Belonging Senator

I would be the senator to choose because I would bring lots of representation and ways to get involved in the school. As a student who is older and beginning a new chapter in my life by changing the course of my college degree, I know there are others. A lot of the time you feel like an outsider because you are not "typical college age". I would like to be able to organize ways for everyone to be involved and not feel as if they are not as worthy as other college students. I would also like to be able to help anyone who needs to feel supported in these life changing decisions. 

• At-Large Senator

I'm Sophia Cooper and I'm a sophomore majoring in political science and business administration on the pre law track. I'm also the vice president and public relations director of the Women's Civic Engagement Society here on campus and am super passionate about my roles in the org because I want to be able to help create opportunities for and inspire civic engagement in creative ways. I would provide representation on campus as a senator by taking into account and working with the variety of needs of both the students and professionals and making sure that academic and career focused needs are being voiced, along with any other needs that individuals may have. I would ensure that I'm keeping up with all communication and making sure that everyone feels that their concerns, goals, and needs are important. 

• At-Large Senator
• CEBAH Senator

Hi! My name is Stella Laufenberg, and I am a student pursuing Biomedical and Health Sciences. I am running for Student Government because I want to become more involved at UWRF and be someone students feel comfortable coming to with their ideas, concerns, and experiences.

I have always enjoyed being involved in my community and helping others. Through working as a CNA, serving as a CNA mentor, volunteering in my community, and being involved in athletics, I have learned how important it is to listen to people, communicate respectfully, and advocate for others. I believe those experiences would help me represent students from different backgrounds and perspectives.

If elected, one of my biggest goals would be making sure students feel heard and included in decisions that affect them. College can be an exciting experience, but it can also be overwhelming, especially for students who are new to campus. I would like to help strengthen communication between students and Student Government and encourage more students to become involved in campus life.

I am outgoing, hardworking, and always willing to listen, even when someone has a different perspective than my own. I would be grateful for the opportunity to represent my fellow Falcons and help make UWRF an even more welcoming, connected, and positive community.