Story By: Justin Janorschke
Photos By: Jasmine Taylor
Most people who know Brad Stanton know him as the vice president of Missouri Western’s Student Government Association. However, before he came to Western, he was just another average teenager like the rest of us.
One of Stanton’s friends and fellow SGA member, Haden McDonald, recalls the pre-college years he spent with Stanton. The two met over seven years ago, and became fast friends through shared interests.
“We started talking to each other around middle school and did things like airsoft and playing video games together,” McDonald said. “We both did debate in high school and debated together as a team … we’ve learned to read each other very well.”
After graduating from Savannah High School, the two enrolled at Western. Stanton decided to try something new here: student government. He had never served on a student council before, but his love of politics spurred him into trying his hand in SGA. A political science major, Stanton became involved with the SGA during his freshman year of college when he became a student senator. He also joined the Politics Club and Pi Sigma Alpha. After his two years as a senator, he became vice president when the previous elect opted out. In doing so, he became a voice for the students, a conduit to allow them to make changes throughout the university.
“The goal of SGA is to be the voice of the students,” Stanton said. “SGA has direct communication with the administration, so if there’s ever anything the students need, they can tell SGA.”
This yearning to help give Western students what they want has kept Stanton very dedicated to his position within the SGA.
Vice President of Student Affairs and advisor to the SGA, Shana Meyer, met Stanton when he joined student government.
“Brad is very intelligent; he has a great sense of humor, he is … on the ball,” Meyer said. “If he says he is going to do something, he will do it. He’s got a sharp sense of wit, as well.”
This motivation to get things finished has become synonymous with Stanton’s reputation. It is perhaps this quality that makes him liked by so many.
Dr. Melinda Kovacs, a political science professor, sees Stanton continuing his political career in the future.
“[I think he will be in] something that involves being a mover and shaker, where you have to think on your feet, where you have to be really quick,” Kovacs said. “I would see him in some sort of nonprofit that is pushing for change.”