Brett Cooper, a junior political science major from Virginia Beach, Va., was elected governor of the North Carolina Student Legislature during the group’s annual meeting April 16 in Raleigh.
In addition to Cooper’s selection, Lauren Newton was chosen as best speaker in the Senate for the session, and Jason Senges was picked as best delegate in the state for the 2003-2004 year.
Cooper, who has served as treasurer and vice president of the Elon delegation to the legislature, will serve a one-year term beginning this summer.
Cooper has also served as president of Elon’s Model UN club and is director of a youth congress program sponsored by NC Rep. Jim Harrell. He has also held leadership positions at the state level of the student legislature, including lieutenant governor and speaker pro tempore.
Nine colleges and universities are represented in the NC Student Legislature. The group debates and proposes resolutions on a variety of issues important to students. These resolutions are passed on to the North Carolina General Assembly for its consideration.
Historically, Cooper says, about 40 percent of the student legislature’s resolutions are passed into law by the General Assembly.