Student Senate Executive Board

Meetings every Thursday at 2 p.m. in College Center 117

The officially recognized representative of the student body at Inver Hills, Student Senate delivers student viewpoints on issues related to college committees and policies. Student Senate develops projects and activities for members, the college and the community. Student Senate is also engaged in presenting student issues and concerns at the Minnesota State Capitol.

Meet your Student Senate leaders…

Dave Zelm
President

Dave Zelm, 36, served in the U.S. Air Force from 2000 to 2006. Dave was working at the Pentagon on 9/11 when al-Qaeda terrorists crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the west wall of the 6.5 million-square-foot building.
During the Iraq War, he was deployed in Kirkuk, a city of 850,000 in oil-rich northeastern Iraq that became an epicenter of inter-ethnic unrest. He also served in Japan and South Korea during his time in the Air Force.
Today, Dave is earning his Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree at Inver Hills Community College with plans to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University after he graduates from Inver in 2019. His goal is to earn a Master of Science (M.S.) in Aeronautics with a minor in Small Unmanned Systems. He is president of Club V.A.L.O.R., a student veterans group on campus.
Dave is a single father with three children, one daughter, Madelyn, 10, and two sons, Jack and Zander, ages 8 and 6. He resides in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, and when he’s not raising his children, studying, running his own aerospace business or taking part in extracurricular activities on campus, he enjoys working with drones, planes, rockets and robots as well as competing in Airsoft and playing the Dark Souls videogame series.

You can learn more about the Student Senate president by reading “Student Spotlight: Dave Zelm” on Inver Hills News.

Dave Zelm | 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Airsoft
2. Place you would most like to visit: Okinawa
3. Your national mammal if you could have one: Hyena
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: “The rules are made up and the points don’t matter.”
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Firefly
6. Favorite all-time movie: The Right Stuff
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Rotocraft license
8. Most precious material possession: My grandfather’s service revolver
9. Dream occupation: I already work for myself; I can’t imagine a job in the world I would want if I had to work for someone else.
10. Person you would most like to meet: I don’t really like celebrities—maybe Elon Musk?
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Patience
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Individually: overcoming exaggerated and imagined fears, and just doing what you want.

Zachary Sokol
Vice President

Zachary Sokol, 24, is a sophomore at Inver Hills, earning his Associate of Science (A.S.) in Chemistry. Originally from San Ramon, California, he graduated from H.B. Plant High School, class of 2011.
Zachary’s role on the Inver Hills Student Senate Executive Board is vice president. He also belongs to DECA, a student business organization. His transfer plans are centered on attending the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering in fall 2019 to complete a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Chemistry. His career plans are aimed at conducting work in a STEM field that will help people.
Zachary resides in Hastings, Minnesota. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, kayaking, boating, hiking, biking, swimming and exercising.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
DETERMINED. FOCUSED. FRIENDLY.

Why did you become a student senator?
“To become more involved at Inver Hills and meet new people.”

Zachary Sokol | 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Soccer
2. Place you would most like to visit: Greece
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Turned a two-week trip abroad into a six-month trip abroad
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: “When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.”
5. Favorite all-time TV show: It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
6. Favorite all-time movie: The Dark Knight
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Travel to every country in the world
8. Most precious material possession: Civil War bullet I found in my backyard
9. Dream occupation: To be Elon Musk
10. Person you would most like to meet: Warren Buffett
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Piano
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Energy, food and water

Esmeralda Martinez
Communications Director

Esmeralda Martinez, 28, is a sophomore at Inver Hills, earning her Associate of Science (A.S.) in Engineering Fundamentals. Originally from Spring Lake Park, Minnesota, she attended Spring Lake Park High School, earning her GED in 2015.
Her role on the Inver Hills Student Senate Executive Board is communications director. She also holds that position in Engineering Club.
Esmeralda’s transfer plans are focused on attending the University of Minnesota to earn a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering. She wishes to continue her education to obtain a master’s degree in the same area before going on to specialize in biomedical engineering and get her doctorate.
Esmeralda resides in Eagan, Minnesota, and in her free time she enjoys drawing, building (mostly cars, LEGOs, anything), reading and photography.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
PASSIONATE. MOTIVATED. GOAL-ORIENTED.

Why did you become a student senator?
“Extra credit was offered to experience participating in a group such as Student Senate. When I found out the true potential Student Senate gives students to become part of their community, I decided I wanted to join the executive board and help more students be involved in our school’s community.”

Esmeralda Martinez | 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Dancing
2. Place you would most like to visit: Asia
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: Attend a live soccer game at a final (CONCACAF Cup)
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Be scared & do it anyway.”
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Friends
6. Favorite all-time movie: Hacksaw Ridge
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Specialize in biomedical engineering and create an accessory/device that would help prevent sexual abuse around the world.
8. Most precious material possession: Replica (mini) of Paul McCartney’s bass guitar
9. Dream occupation: Designer/engineer of race cars
10. Person you would most like to meet: Barack Obama
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Sign language
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Humankind

Ali Bezdicek
Legislative Director

Ali Bezdicek, 24, is a freshman at Inver Hills with plans to study sociology and earn her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. Originally from Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, she graduated from Simley High School, class of 2017.
Ali’s role on the Inver Hills Student Senate Executive Board is legislative director. She is a firm believer in advocacy. Her transfer plans are focused on attending the University of Minnesota College of Science and Engineering in spring 2019. Her goal is to major in sociology and minor in psychology before going on to law school. She is looking forward to a career as a discrimination lawyer.
Ali resides in Inver Grove Heights. In her free time, she enjoys snowboarding, playing volleyball and spending time with her nieces.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
HARDWORKING. STRESSED. DETERMINED.

Why did you become a student senator?
“I became a student senator because I wanted to be involved with situations and pin ideas to help get through these situations. I wanted to be involved and make new friends since it was my first year at Inver. I would do it all over again.”

Ali Bezdicek | 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Volleyball
2. Place you would most like to visit: Italy
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: TBD
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: “But first, coffee.”
5. Favorite all-time TV show: One Tree Hill, duh!
6. Favorite all-time movie: American Sniper
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Completing school the best way I can
8. Most precious material possession: My Keurig!!!
9. Dream occupation: Discrimination lawyer
10. Person you would most like to meet: Adam Sandler (He is SO funny!)
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: How to speak/read Spanish fluently
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Equality

Alec Mitzuk
Treasurer

Alec Mitzuk, 26, is a sophomore at Inver Hills, earning his Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree. Originally from St. Paul, Minnesota, he graduated from St. Paul Central High School, class of 2009. (“Go Minutemen!”)
His role on the Inver Hills Student Senate Executive Board is treasurer. Alec’s transfer plans are centered on attending the University of Minnesota to study philosophy and economics. His career goals are twofold, open a microbrewery and/or start a consulting business.
Alec resides in St. Paul and in his free time he enjoys videogames, touring microbreweries, socializing, and reading philosophy and history, the latter especially about World War II.

Three words that describe you as a college student:
OUTGOING. FUNNY. DETERMINED.

Why did you become a student senator?
“To be a decisive and accountable voice for my fellow students.”

Alec Mitzuk | 12 Answers

1. Favorite sport or physical activity: Football
2. Place you would most like to visit: WWII locations across Europe
3. The most exciting thing you’ve ever done: TBD
4. Your personal motto if you had to have one: “Live fast and take chances.”
5. Favorite all-time TV show: Stargate SG-1
6. Favorite all-time movie: The Godfather
7. One thing you most want to accomplish in life: Travel and experience broad ranges of culture
8. Most precious material possession: Miniature Terra Cotta Soldier replica from China
9. Dream occupation: Owning a microbrewery
10. Person you would most like to meet: Winston Churchill
11. Skill you would most like to learn and master: Speaking Spanish
12. Most important issue or problem facing humankind: Lack of critical and philosophical thinking

Meetings every Thursday at 2 p.m. in College Center 117. All are welcome.

To learn more about Student Senate and Student Life at Inver Hills, contact:

Nicole Meulemans
Director of Student Life and Activities
651-450-3311
Nicki Bottko
Associate Director of Student Life
651-450-3530
Jenni Yamada
Student Life Activites Coordinator
651-450-3754