The 2012-2013 Student’s association cabinet formally handed over the reigns to the newly elected officers at the Fairway Oaks Country Club on Thursday night.

SA officers, Student Congress members, friends, and faculty advisers of SA attended the ceremony known as the Changing of the Guard.

Recently hired cabinet members in the positions of Chief Communications Officer, Chief Financial Officer and administrative assistant were also announced. The CCO is Emily Pybus, a junior graphic design major from North Richland Hills. The CFO is Victoria Garza, a junior speech pathology major from Corpus Christi.  The administrative assistant is Robert Hull, a junior piano performance major from Ripon, Calif.

The evening began with dinner and was followed by Congressmen Superlatives and cabinet pass downs. Each exiting officer spoke about a faculty mentor and awarded that faculty member with a plaque of gratitude.

Emily O’Rear, sophomore communications major from Huntsville, received the Most Enthusiastic Congressman award.

“The officers this past year were wonderful and each of them had a very special impact on my life each in different ways,” O’Rear said.

Each of the exiting officers passed down their positions to the elected officers with a word of blessing and a gift that was symbolic of their new position.

The 2012-13 SA Cabinet. (Optimist photo by Mandy Lambright)

“SA has been my safe zone for four years and I’ve loved every minute of it,” said Rebecca Dial, the former SA president. “I’m looking forward to the work that Dylan and the new officers continue with Students’ Association.”

Dial, senior polictial science and finance major from Lexington, S.C., passed down the President’s Bible to the new president Dylan Benac, junior political science major from Borne.

“This is an exciting time for our university. We’re going through a lot of changes,” Benac said. “Some of them will impact next year and some will impact the next 10-15 years. I am excited to play a small part in that.”

Benac concluded the night with his thoughts on the upcoming school year and a prayer, then the audience followed with a spontaneous singing of the hymn The Lord Bless You and Keep You.

“I’m excited and grateful, and I am looking forward to whatever may come,” Benac said.