ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA -- Winthrop University’s student body has elected its Council of Student Leaders (CSL) chair and vice chair for the 2023-24 academic year: Esther Ekundayo (chair) and Rachel Griffith (vice chair).
The duo, who frequently used the motto “Be the change you want to see” during campaigning, outlined three initiatives they’d like to accomplish during their tenure:
1. Supporting Winthrop’s student organizations by increasing participation rates through networking;
2. Improving students’ mental health by communicating current resources and hosting a monthly “DeStress Fest” event; and
3. Creating a more sustainable environment through a project called “Eagle Boutique,” in which students could thrift and upcycle clothing, donate and collect school supplies, and earn service hours.
The pair said they were “completely overjoyed” when they found out they won the election.
“We both called each other immediately once the e-mail was released, tearing up with happiness,” said Ekundayo. “The election campaign has been a real challenge for the both of us, but we are both glad the hard work paid off and that we had the opportunity to connect with so many students. We could not be more overjoyed to see that people believed in us and continued to support our journey. We can’t wait to be active in our positions and to work on the issues addressed by the student population.”
About Esther Ekundayo
An international student from London, this is Ekundayo’s fourth year studying in the United States. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in leadership studies from Columbia College and is pursuing an M.B.A. in human resources from Winthrop. She previously ran track and field and cross country and is a graduate assistant for the College of Business Administration.
About Rachel Griffith
Griffith is a double mass communication and social work major from Columbia. She is currently president of the Student Alumni Council, a Winthrop Ambassador and a resident assistant. She’s also active in the student organizations SOAR, A.Bevy, WU Vogue, the student chapter of the NAACP and the Alpha Kappa Psi national business fraternity.
For more information about CSL, visit the website at www.winthrop.edu/csl.
