Djuan McCraney & Karena B. Payden
Position: President & Executive Vice President
Slogan: YourVoiceOurAction
Instagram: @yourvoice.ouraction
Candidate Statement:
We, Djuan and Karena, are excited to announce that we are running for President and Executive Vice President of ASI for the 2025-2026 school year.
We believe in uplifting and supporting students to their fullest potential. As active members of ASI, serving on multiple committees and as the current Arts and Letters Director, we have witnessed firsthand the incredible ways ASI and Sac State can transform lives while also identifying ways to strengthen our community.
Leadership means showing up, not just in presence but in action. If elected, we promise to show up for you– the students, this organization, and for the school.
As President and Executive Vice President, we will lead by example. Our focus will be on expanding professional development opportunities, streamlining transparency of resources, and fighting for the diverse communities that reside on our campus.
We are confident that our joint experience, dedication, and passion makes us the ideal candidates. “Your Voice, Our Action” is not just a campaign, it’s a promise built on listening, understanding, and delivering results. We are committed to making real, meaningful change for our community, driven by the collective power of your voice. On April 16th and 17th, your vote will influence change. Together, we can turn ideas into action. Thank you for your support, and let’s make our voices heard!
Namrata Choudhary & Akhil Raj (WITHDREW 4.4.2025)
Position: President & Executive Vice President
Slogan: One Hive, One Family
Instagram: @
Candidate Statement:
Our fellow Hornets,
We know what it’s like to struggle with rising costs and to feel like student voices are ignored. We have seen the consequences of inaction and the damage it has done to our student body. We are students who have been directly affected by increasing fees and the divisive actions taken by student leaders over the past year. However, we have led a movement dedicated to protecting the most vulnerable communities on our campus. As board members of the Sunrise Movement, we have worked to support students’ mental health and advocated for undocumented students by pushing to end the discriminatory Social Security rule for Associated Students, Inc. recall elections. Akhil, a student senator, has fought to put money back in students’ pockets securing textbook refunds as an ASI Student Senator and standing up for undocumented students. As the COO of College Democrats, he has also been a dedicated civil rights activist, fighting for the LGBTQIA+ community. We’re not here to play politics we’re here to fight for you. We are One family. One Hive. And together, we shall strive!
Aranjot Kaur & Richard Angulo
Position: President & Executive Vice President
Slogan: Fight for the Hive!
Instagram: @fightforthehive
Candidate Statement:
Greetings Hornet Hive,
We, Aranjot Kaur and Richard Angulo, have the privilege of announcing our candidacy for President and Executive Vice President of ASI.
Our journey as a team began at the Fall 2023 Sac Start-Up Challenge at the Carlsen Center, where we collaborated, refined ideas, and discovered our shared passion for creating opportunities, fostering engagement, and advocating for students. Through this experience, our entrepreneurial mindset has empowered us to look for a silver lining in every circumstance, in and out of the classroom. Though our roots have spanned different parts of the world, our shared passion for leadership, innovation, and creating new opportunities has brought us together.
I, Aranjot Kaur, have always believed in turning my visions into reality by identifying and deploying resources. My enthusiasm and advocacy for better opportunities helped bridge the gap between Mixed Martial Arts and academic success. However, navigating this endeavor from my home in India presented what seemed to be an insurmountable obstacle. Before even stepping on campus, I worked on ideas to make a difference, a vision coupled with the mantra, “Don’t give me a no; give me a pathway to a yes.” That persistence led to CombatU, the first-of-its-kind program at Sac State. This exemplifies my commitment to leadership, innovation, and creating new opportunities, which will funnel into strategies that tackle issues facing our students and how the ASI Student Government can help alleviate those circumstances.
As an ambassador for Combat U and the “Way of the Hornet” campaign, I have proudly represented Sac State to regional and international stakeholders while contributing to our local Hornet Community. Serving as the President of Combat U MMA and Jiu-Jitsu clubs has allowed me to build community, foster campus involvement, and empower students to follow their passion.
I, Richard Angulo, am driven to bridge business acumen with civic engagement for meaningful changes. This has led me to many opportunities to reshape what service, leadership, and commitment to ensuring students have the necessary resources to succeed meant to me. Working with California Volunteers and being appointed as an Ambassador for Sacramento State College Corps strengthened my passion for public service and student advocacy. Just as College Corps connected students with service opportunities, ASI has the power to shape policies that directly impact student life.
I am a hard-of-hearing student who utilizes the Disability Access Center (DAC) to ensure equal access to education. I was a Resident Assistant at Hornet Commons, ensuring students had a safe and supportive living environment. I am part of the Sac State Rowing Club, an alumnus of Delta Lambda Phi, and a former staff member at the Pride Center, where I helped foster inclusivity on campus. As a Marketing and Outreach Specialist at Sacramento State College Corps, I connected students with opportunities to reduce their college debt while giving back to their community.
We have been “sparring” in our collegiate endeavors, but now we are ready to perform our best at the center stage of the ASI Student Government. Through ASI, we will advocate for increased scholarships, enhanced campus safety, and better student engagement with resources. We are here to serve, listen, and act. Your voice, your ideas, your concerns- they all matter. With your vote, we can create an inclusive, engaged, and empowered campus community where every Hornet can find their home at the Hive.
Join Us—Vote on April 16 and 17. We are running for you, with you.
Sincerely,
Aranjot Kaur and Richard Angulo
Raden Kayla Zilvia (Kayze) & Matthew Graviet (WITHDREW 4.10.2025)
Position: President & Executive Vice President
Slogan: With Hive, We Thrive!
Instagram: @withhivewethrive
Candidate Statement:
Hey Hornets! Kayze and Matthew here! We are running for the position of ASI President and Executive Vice President for the year of 2025-2026. We believe that good leadership is the foundation of a strong and secure community.
I, Raden Kayla Zilvia/ Kayze, am a 3rd year student, currently serving as the President and chapter founder of Future Business Leaders of America. Throughout my leadership journey with one of the biggest clubs in the nation, it’s been an honor and grace to have served, provided resources, and supported Sac State members to participate in state events, winning competitive events, and recently qualified for representing Sac State at a national level. I, Matthew Graviet, am a 3rd year student. My leadership journey began years ago in Boy Scouts where I strove to grow and help others achieve goals. Currently, I actively manage small teams of 4-6 people, promoting problem-solving, creative thinking, and cooperation with a decades old gaming platform.
We are committed to supporting YOU throughout YOUR college journey. This upcoming academic year will be a fresh start for the Sacramento State community as we will be focusing on prioritizing our community’s safety and inclusivity. With the diverse population on campus, we understand many different obstacles and concerns that students, faculty, and staff may face which include but not limited to access to basic needs, classroom and campus facility concerns, discrimination, sexual harassment, mental health, and financial hardships. With that being said, we are committed to serving as the representative of YOUR VOICE at regional, state, and national levels.
Our priority is to ensure that YOUR VOICE IS HEARD. We will ensure the student government gives the best to provide the right resources based on our community’s needs and to address concerns that affect the safety of students, faculty, and staff. We will fully support and encourage students’ involvement on campus such as students clubs, sports, and academic-related activities through grants and scholarships to achieve success. We are committed to advocating for success, safety, and equality for the Sacramento State community.
Armando Julian Perez & Chaaya Vikash
Position: President & Executive Vice President
Slogan: HornetPRIDE
Instagram: @votehornetpride
Candidate Statement:
Fellow Hornets, We, Armando J. Perez and Chaaya Vikash, are privileged to stand as candidates for the positions of ASI President and Executive Vice President. As veteran advocates, leaders, and runners among students, we are dedicated to building ASI into a stronger, more transparent, and student-centered organization. We want to make student government work for you, with you, and through you. I, Armando, am a first-generation Mexican American student and child of an immigrant parent. I have direct understanding of the difficulties of navigating college without prior assistance, and I am dedicated to making sure that every student has the services and resources they require to be successful. I, Chaaya, am a first-generation Indian Pacific Islander student who was raised by immigrant parents. I recognize the special issues inherent in working in the higher education environment, and I am committed to making college life more inclusive, supportive, and accessible for all students. Through my work as Director of Undeclared Students and former CSSA Liaison for ASI, I have endeavored to make student concerns heard at both the campus and systemwide levels. I, Chaaya, as Lobby Corps Chair and Legislative Affairs Coordinator, have represented the interests of students in integral decision-making areas, fighting for policy initiatives and changes that directly affect the Hornet community. We have seen firsthand how effective student leadership can be, and our goal is simple: to improve student life, make student voices heard, and maintain transparency and accountability within the Associated Students Inc. and Sacramento State. HornetPRIDE is at the core of our campaign and represents a dedication to creating an active, educated, and prosperous student body. Enhancing student life, empowering student voices, and ensuring transparency and accountability within ASI and the university are our top priorities. Life in college is not all about academics! It is about memories, building relationships, and creating opportunities. Each student must be represented, and we will advocate for students, for policies that will include all students, and ensure that ASI is a responsible student government. Transparency and accountability are its foundations; therefore, we will attempt to create those channels for communication, give updates on initiatives monthly by the creation of an ASI Monthly Newsletter and hold ASI accountable to those whom we represent. Actual change happens through collaboration among students, staff, and administration. Therefore, we will create avenues for student input, build connections with student groups, and ensure that these issues lead to meaningful change. We’re running because we believe in the power of student leadership and the impact of our voice together. Our experience, passion, and dedication drive us to make ASI work for every student. Let’s move forward with HornetPRIDE and build a campus where every student feels connected, heard, and empowered.
