Nico-Mikos-is-Ready-to-Start-the-Year-as-Rock-Valley-College-Student-Trustee.php

Nico Mikos is Ready to Start the Year as Rock Valley College Student Trustee

• Students
• 08/06/2024

Nico Mikos, a 2023 graduate of Harlem High School, has been elected as the new Student Trustee for Rock Valley College.

Nico is pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at RVC and is interested in social sciences. After completing his studies at RVC in 2025, he plans to continue his education at either the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, aiming for a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning and a Masters in Geography.

"I think it is exciting to be elected to the RVC Board of Trustees, and I think it's important to represent every student on the board, so that will be my main goal," said Nico. "I believe this puts me in a unique position to be on an elected board that makes all decisions for the school."

As an active member of the Multicultural Club and Phi Theta Kappa, Nico is well-prepared to represent the student body. His primary goals as Student Trustee include introducing an American Sign Language (ASL) class to RVC, advocating for installing solar panels and electric chargers on campus and striving to keep tuition costs as low as possible. Additionally, he would like to increase civic engagement and help drive up voter turnout in all elections. Other goals include beautifying the campus with native plant species, such as native prairie grass and flowers, and listening to students' needs.

Lien Vu first met Nico when he was a student in her Intro to Cultural Anthropology class (ANP-103) in Fall 2023. She sensed he would be an excellent student on the first day of class. Nico politely introduced himself and asked great clarification questions about the class syllabus. She was impressed by the depth of his questions and encouraged him to keep asking questions. "He would sometimes stay around after class to talk about the lecture material or stop by my office during the week to chat," said Lien. "I was always happy to see him! I soon learned about Nico's passions for local politics and environmental sustainability and his dry sense of humor. When the announcement was made for Student Trustee nominations, I immediately thought of Nico and knew he would be perfect for the position. I am excited to see him grow and contribute to the college as the Student Trustee for the 2024-2025 year!"

The Student Trustee's role involves acting as a liaison between the Student Government Association (SGA) and the Board of Trustees. This position requires significant time, responsibility, and commitment. As the official representative of Rock Valley College students, Nico will be responsible for attending all Board of Trustees meetings and off-campus events, such as conferences and state meetings. His term will run from May 2024 to April 2025.

Nico is set to bring a fresh perspective and dedicated leadership to Rock Valley College. His vision for enhancing campus facilities and his commitment to affordable education highlight his readiness for this important role.

 "As a person who has worked with elected officials and government bodies, including being a constituent service intern with a state representative, I understand you must listen to and help situate people's concerns. As a person who has worked with the public, I have seen many perspectives that make me qualified to represent the students."