On Thursday March 16 at 4 p.m. voting for the 2023 NCSAC elections will close.
This year, three candidates are running for President. Learn more about them below.
Dipal Patel
Dipal Patel
Dipal Patel has been a motivated and engaged student during her studies at Niagara College. Dipal currently serves as the Director of Community services for NCSAC, and is also the Student Representative on the NC Board of Governor’s for 2022-2023. She has one year of experience serving as the NCSAC Director of Justice and Fitness, along with her contributions in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Taskforce and Sexual Violence Taskforce at Niagara College.
Through her board development work, Dipal has received Good Governance training which will continue to help her advocate on behalf of the student community, and to continue to be a strong voice for the students of NC.
Dipal attended the 2021 Student Union Development Summit, where she learned about thoughtful ways to give back to the student community while keeping students’ needs top of mind. She also attended the 2022 World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics Conference in Spain to represent Niagara College as the voice of youth. Dipal also learnt about governance while attending the Higher Education Summit and is currently enrolled in Autism and Behavioral Science and is a NC Alumni of Exercise Science for Health and Performance program.
Sofiia Kutiepova
Sofiia Kutiepova
Sofiia Kutiepova was born in Ukraine. She has a Master’s Degree from Kharkiv National University in the field of General Biology and a Certificate in Landscape Design. She is currently a student of Environmental Management and Assessment Program while also serving as Director of Environment and Horticulture for the Niagara College Student Administrative Council.
However, Sofiiia’s life and professional experience is much wider. In Ukraine, she worked in the tourism business, as a landscaper, owner, and account assistant at Doctor Dress company, and in Canada, as assistant manager of Tim Hortons in St. Catharines, Ontario.
What is important: each of these positions required Sofiia’s empathy, the ability to resolve conflict situations, working closely with a wide range of people, coordinating their activities, using a wide variety of forms of management, planning, and promoting new ideas. In other words, the creative solution to organizational, logistical, and administrative problems is her element. If you cast your vote for Sofiia, these skills can ensure that your voice is included in all decisions made by the NCSAC.
Sofiiia Kutiepova lives in St. Catharines, Ontario, and has two sons.
Urooj Rajput
Urooj Rajput
Hi Niagara College Knights, I’m running to be the next President of NCSAC. I am currently in my final year, completing my Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration- Human Resources. I love helping where and how I can while including the voices of students in big board decisions. If you vote for me, I’ll make sure your vote for me will be a voice for all decisions that NCSAC makes in terms of student well-being, financial and social.
My single mother immigrated to Canada with me and my two sisters from Pakistan to provide us with a better life and education. It has been my life goal since to be as strong as my mom and take the next female lead. I want to exercise my privilege of being in Canada to influence good by expressing the impact in Niagara College positively. Being Canadian every day reminds me how thankful I am in comparison to those who struggle to live, don’t have a safe shelter like the recent earthquakes in Syria or the crisis happening in Ukraine. I live by the quote “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. I hope I am becoming that person that makes a difference in either someone’s life or help resolve issues whether it’s a humanitarian like supporting individuals/countries that are most vulnerable to disasters, attacks or discrimination. As well as, in NC I aspire to intensify gender equality, making sure sustainability is well represented, amplify diversity, and any student academic concerns are addressed. Therefore, I have always been passionate to get involved within my community since I was 14 like contributing to city events like soup kitchens and cleaning up litter in parks. I am currently involved and committed with NCSAC as a Director for two years gaining sufficient experience and knowledge to be qualified to run for president. Less than two months ago I was hesitant to run for being president –I am glad I am here today running for the Presidency role to execute my mission influencing greater change at Niagara College.
For more information about the NCSAC President candidates, please visit www.ncvotes.ca/ncsacbod.
