A LuVerne resident has been selected to lead the student senate at Iowa Lakes Community College’s Emmetsburg Campus for the 2003-2004 college year.

Jamie Pedersen is a freshman student majoring in Arts & Science courses designed to transfer to an elementary education major at a four-year college.

Pedersen has served as one of 10 student senators on the Emmetsburg Campus during the current college year.  As a student senator, she participated in a Legislative Seminar, Statewide Leadership Conference and the SkillsUSA/VICA Leadership Camp.

She views the job as more than just offering fun activities for students.

“I’d like to continue – and expand on – the community service projects that we’ve done,” Pedersen said, referring to the opportunities offered the students to participate in ventures that benefit others.  This last year, students worked at the Northwest Iowa Humane Society, helped move offices at a hospital, helped with fundraising for a domestic abuse shelter and helped at a middle school.

And, she already setting goals for next year.

“I’d like to see increased student participation at events,” Pedersen said. “As a team, our student senators will focus on student requests in an effort to continue to meet the needs of the Emmetsburg campus.”

In addition to serving on the student senate, Pedersen is a Presidential Scholar at Iowa Lakes.

“Jamie’s leadership skills have been evident this past year and I have every confidence in her ability to lead the students on this campus,” said Bill Lapczenski, Student Senate Advisor.

Pedersen is a 2002 graduate of Corwith-Wesley-LuVerne and is the daughter of Bob and Sue Pedersen of LuVerne.