K-State’s Future Leaders Share Their Plans on Stage at 2026 SGA Debate
- Ashley Olds
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
On Thursday, the Student Governing Association (SGA) at Kansas State University held its presidential debate to determine who will serve as student body president and vice president for the 2026-2027 school year.
Meet the Candidates
Lauren Wolter, a junior studying animal science, is running for student body president alongside Matt Hendricks, a sophomore majoring in agricultural economics, who is seeking the vice presidency.
Christian Peña, a junior studying agricultural education, is also a candidate for student body president, with Caden Bastian, a junior majoring in political science and history, as his running mate.
Opening Remarks
During his opening statements, Peña explained that his goal is to make “SGA more transparent and accessible to all.”
“We hope that we can continue to break down barriers and make everyone here feel included in the decisions that we make within SGA,” he continued.
Bastian emphasized the importance of servant leadership, adding that whoever holds these positions should share that same value.
“I want students on campus to know that Christian and I are here to see the benefit of everyone,” he continued. “We want to ensure that they can make their voices heard on campus and that every single part of campus is being heard and listened to.”
Wolter shared her experiences during her time at K-State, reflecting on how they shaped her goals for student government and how it inspired the ticket’s initiatives, Inspire, Innovate, and Impact.
“Throughout my time at Kansas State, I’ve gotten involved in a lot of different organizations, both in Quest and Silver Key honoraries, several ag clubs and recruitment organizations, and particularly within student government,” Wolter said. “I've previously served as external affairs director and currently as the government relations director, both very external-facing roles, something I believe to be imperative to the student body president role.
Hendricks also shared his experiences during his time at K-State and reflected on the lasting impact he hopes to make.
“I've had the opportunity over the past year to serve as the External Affairs Director in the Executive Branch of the Student Governing Association,” he said. “In that role, I represented student voices to the external factors in Manhattan and the local community.”
The Debate
During the general questions portion of the debate, each of the candidates shared their visions for student leadership and addressed issues they felt were important to students, including transparency and campus involvement.
On the issue of transparency and accountability, the candidates shared their plans for decision-making and how they plan to use student funds.
“Transparency between SGA and the broader student community is imperative to the role of student body president and vice president, and we plan to improve that if elected,” Hendricks said. “One of Lauren and I’s initiatives regarding transparency is the utilization and usage of town halls all across campus.”
The candidates were also asked how they plan to make K-State a more welcoming and supportive campus for every student.
“Christian and I want representation in person. It’s an excellent way for SGA to hear concerns from students and ensure that action is being pursued,” Bastian said.
Audience Asking the Candidates
Following the general session, audience members were able to ask questions by scanning a QR code.
The discussion then shifted to the qualities the candidates felt are important for student leaders to possess and how they embody those traits.
“It all boils down to one, integrity. I think it’s incredibly important that whoever serves in these roles is someone that does what they say and does what they promise students they would do during their time,” Wolter said.
Closing Remarks
During their closing remarks, the candidates thanked the audience for coming out to support them and let students know that they have a voice and will be heard. They also encouraged students to vote in the election.
Voting will begin on Feb. 24 and close on Feb. 25.