With spring rushes underway, the rushees aren’t the only ones testing out new waters. As of last week all 11 social clubs have elected new presidents for the 2016-2017 year.

Each club held nominations and elections earlier this spring, and have also filled the other vacancies left with the passing of the torch.

Kyle Karnei, who was recently elected president of Gamma Sigma Phi, said he hopes to make sure the other officers along with himself are the best they can be within their roles.

“I am most excited about another year, and having the opportunity to develop relationships,” said Karnei, the junior accounting and finance major from Waco. “We are in a great spot as a club and I’m excited to see where God takes us this year.”

For many years club has been a great place for students to come together and work toward a common goal of unity and service. Newly elected Sigma Theta Chi president, Kelsey Odom said club is often a safe place for students to find community.

“The primary purpose that club serves, in my opinion, is to make life-long friendships with girls that are going to hold you accountable, make you laugh, and go with you through all of the good and bad times,” said Odom, a nursing major from Lubbock.

After a year with many success stories in the club atmosphere, many of the new presidents will have big shoes to fill, but junior Trevor Tyson, the president of Galaxy for the 2016-2017 school year, said he is ready to tackle the task.

“I think the role of president is to cast a vision for club and inspire activity to reach that vision,” said Tyson a marketing and management major from Abilene. “This year is going to be a great one. We have a stellar officer team and the best members in club I could ask for.”

Most of the newly elected presidents were a part of the first pledge class to experience the shortened three weeks of pledging. This fall will also be the third consecutive year for pledging rules and regulations to remain the same and the first where all members in club will have shared the similar experience.

“As an upcoming senior, it is different to not always ‘look up’ to girls that have always lead club, and so it has been amazing to see so many of the younger girls stepping up into new leadership roles,” Odom said.

Each of the clubs have one rush left this fall and will have three more when students return in the fall of next school year.

New Presidents:

Alpha Kai Omega- Meagan McBride

GATA- Kelsee McGee

Ko Jo Kai- Kennedi Ross

Sigma Theta Chi- Kelsey Odom

Tri Kappa Gamma- Allison Lynn

Zeta Rho- Luthien McCurdy

Frater Sodalis- Joel Childers

Galaxy- Trevor Tyson

Gamma Sigma Phi- Kyle Karnei

Pi Kappa- Ben Kimble

Trojans- Chris Kirklin