SGA president-elect reflects on college goals, OCU career

Abby Banks, political science/philosophy/economics sophomore, has been named the new Student Government Association president. Her interest in law, however, has been many years in the making.

Banks is from Sand Springs, Oklahoma. She said OCU was everything she wanted in a school.

“It had the major I wanted, it was close to home, great campus, great location and a great size,” Banks said. “Just everything I want from a university, OCU checks that box.”

Banks said her interest in law started when she was young.

“This is so off the cuff, but when I was 11 I walked up to my parents and said, ‘I’m going to go to law school,’” she said. “Since then, that’s what I’ve been working toward.”

Banks participated in the Youth in Government program at her high school.

Banks said her high school involvement in law made her dreams a reality.

“It was through that that I discovered that practicing law is what I want to do,” she said. “I also discovered that I really love government and the ability to make change through government.”

Banks’s triple major at OCU is technically housed through the OCU law program, giving her credit for three years of undergraduate schooling and three years of law.

Banks said the three areas of study, political science, philosophy and economics, are the majors that people score the best with on the Law School Admission Test.

Banks said OCU is a unique school for having this program.

“OCU is the only school in the state of Oklahoma that had a program like that. Getting into law school, doing well on my LSAT, that’s what I want to do with my life, so that was a driving factor,” she said.

Banks has been involved with SGA throughout her time at OCU.

“My freshman year, I decided to run for an open freshman senate seat. I ended up winning a seat, and I absolutely loved SGA,” she said. “After I saw a need to serve the students in a greater capacity, I decided to run for vice president. It was through that that I saw my ability to serve OCU as a whole isn’t done, so that’s when I decided to take the step and run for president of SGA.”

Banks said Trae Trousdale, former SGA president, and Victoria Mayhall, political science/Spanish senior, have made an impact on her role in student government.

“He’s just been a mentor in what the role of a vice president and a president should be,” she said. “Victoria Mayhall has been a role model in my OCU experience.”

Banks came to OCU not only to study political science, but to play on the women’s soccer team as a goalie.

Banks said soccer has been a passion of hers for many years.

“I’ve played since I was about 4 ½, so college soccer was something that I always had in mind, but it didn’t really become a reality until I was a junior in high school,” she said. “I went to one of OCU’s soccer camps and the rest is history.”

Banks is also a member of Alpha Chi Omega, as well as the speech and debate team.

Dr. Levi Harrel, dean of students, said Banks is a dedicated leader.

“She is passionate about what she does and what she dedicates her time to. In her roles on campus, she is driven by the idea of making the campus community better for everyone involved,” Harrel said. “I am excited to see how she builds on her work in SGA as our new president and see what she accomplishes in her term.”

Banks said women should not be afraid to make their voices heard in government.

“That’s the biggest stigma, that we won’t be heard as women, but you have to make your voice heard,” she said. “I say that women are not done fighting to have their voice heard. The ability for me to be SGA president and hopefully one day continue a life of service to others, hopefully that can open the door for other women to do the same thing.”