Student Ann Ilagan, Plover, is graduating this spring from Mid-State Technical College with her associate degree in Business Management, but not before making her mark on student government statewide. This April, Ilagan was elected by her peers to a second term as Wisconsin Student Government (WSG) president, giving her the rare honor of being reelected to the role. She will continue as president in the 2020–21 academic year, while enrolling part-time at Mid-State.

WSG is comprised of representatives for the 16 technical college districts in the WTCS. Each participating college selects a governor from among its students, and this group of governors votes at the last meeting of the academic year to elect its president for the upcoming year, choosing from the candidates who have decided to run for the position. As president, Ilagan will further her work to provide a collective voice for all Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) students at the organization’s board meetings as well as understand WTCS issues and brief the WSG Board of Governors during the five annual meetings she'll preside over across the state next academic year. She will also continue to represent WSG as official spokesperson at outside functions, appoint all committees and committee chairs and approve subcommittee appointments of committee chairpersons.

“It’s an incredible honor to be reelected as the student representative of the 16 technical colleges in Wisconsin,” said Ilagan. “I’ve been so impressed by the innovation I’ve seen at the state level to ensure technical college students in Wisconsin have access to the education they need to excel in life and give back to their communities,” she added. “It’s a privilege to be a part of that, and I'm looking forward to continuing the significant work of representing student interests statewide.”

“It is rare that the WSG has the benefit of a two-term president, and it speaks to the confidence governors of the other colleges in the WTCS have in Ann’s ability to lead,” said Jon Steele, advisor to Mid-State’s WSG representatives. “Ann consistently champions the missions of Mid-State and the WTCS, and her acquired knowledge this year combined with her continuity in the role will not only benefit the WSG but also the collective student voice among the state’s technical colleges.”

Ilagan initially enrolled in Mid-State’s Business Management program to give her burgeoning photography business structure and greater growth potential. Although she imagined just getting in and out with her Business Management associate degree, Ilagan’s time at Mid-State soon exemplified the power of getting involved, as she explored all student life had to offer. When two Mid-State advisors suggested she run for president of the Wisconsin Student Government (WSG), she soon found herself serving in a role she never imagined for herself but has come to treasure for what it has taught her about organizational leadership. “I'm motivated by people, especially when it's people growing together or wanting to enrich and better themselves and not just stay with the status quo," she said.

Ilagan will complete her Business Management associate degree this May to add to the Marketing associate degree she earned from Mid-State last spring. Next year’s plan includes starting work on her marketing bachelor’s degree, which she anticipates completing in just two semesters, thanks to a transfer agreement between Mid-State and UW-Stevens Point. 

Find Ilagan’s full story and video at mstc.edu/gradspotlight, and follow Mid-State’s Facebook account at facebook.com/MidStateTech on Sunday, May 17, to join a special celebration of the spring graduating class.