Past Leadership
Leadership Team 2011
Governor John Knotts of the University of Florida
Governor Knotts is currently attending the University of Florida, where he studies Political Science and History. Before attending the University of Florida for his bachelorette degree, he attended Lake Sumter Community College where he also studied Political Science, History, and Psychology. Through his desire to participate in extracurricular activities John served in a leadership position at the Florida Junior/Community College Student Government Association. John worked as a logistician for the Lake Aurora Christian Camp, and for the US Census as a Data Collection Specialist. One of his political inspirations is Thomas Jefferson. John was very excited to serve as your Governor for the 2011 Florida Model Legislature and looks forward to working with all of the participants in the simulation.
Lt. Governor Michael Sampson from Florida State University
Michael Sampson is currently a senior at Florida State University with a double major in Political Science and Philosophy. There he is the director for the FSU Students of Color Caucus, active member in the FSU Coalition for Education, board member for the Center of Participant of Education as well as involved with the Black Student Union.
Senate President Tyler Cash of Pasco Hernando Community College
Tyler Cash is a Florida Model legislature alumni from 2010 where he acted as a Senator, and chaired the Criminal Justice Committee. Tyler is currently enrolled as a sophomore at Pasco Hernando Community College and will be completing his A.A. degree this spring. After completing his studies at Pasco Hernando CC, Tyler plans to attend either University of Florida or Florida State University to major in Business and minor in Political Science. Tyler has taken part in other civic programs such as the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida, and the Florida Model UN. During the 2010 election cycle, Tyler worked for State Representative Will Weatherford as campaign staff and successfully worked to get Weatherford re-elected.
Secretary of the Senate Shuyun Xue from the University of Florida
Shuyun Xue, a freshman from the University of Florida, is honored to serve as the senate secretary for the 2011 legislative session. She is a pre-med student pursuing a dual degree in business management and biology as well as a minor in communication studies and chemistry. She became involved with Florida Model Legislature last year and has been active in it since. Shuyun enjoyed her first conference last year and looks forward to work with everyone to make this year's conference even bigger and better. Shuyun is also involved with Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL), Model United Nations, and the Asian American Student Union at the University of Florida. She enjoys meeting new people and is always up for new challenges and advantures. She eventually hopes to open her own optometry practice and serve as a FBLA advisor. She looks forward to meeting everyone at the conference and encourages delegates to contact her atwith any questions or suggestion before and during the conference.
Speaker of the House Dominique Meyer from Florida State University
Dominique Meyer is a junior at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is majoring in International Affairs with focus areas in Political Science and Spanish, and is working to obtain a certificate in International Development through the FSU Global Pathways Certificate Program. Dominique is currently a member of FSU’s World Affairs Program and American Mock Trial Association Team as well as Tallahassee Community College’s Model United Nations Club. She has also sponsored many youth-led community service initiatives and has held internship positions in two congressional offices. As a member of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and a recipient of Valencia Community College’s Bill Castellano Civic Leadership Award, Dominique actively participates in collegiate organizations while placing emphasis on academic achievement and civic engagement.
Dominique has participated in a plethora of legislative simulations that educate youth on the value of civic involvement, including serving the 2010 Florida Model Legislature Session as Senate President. She is excited to return this year to the 2011 Florida Model Legislative session as the Speaker of the House. It is her goal to work cohesively with other aspiring civic leaders to foster lively, hands-on educational growth and enthusiastic debate on the floor of the Florida House chambers.
Clerk of the House Brian Emery from Lake Sumter Community College
Brian Emery will serve as this years House Clerk at Florida Model Legislature. He is currently attending Lake-Sumter Community College where he major's in Business Administration. At Brian's campus he is a very active member of the S.A.F.I.R.E club, discussing Science Fiction, Anima, and Fantasy. In Brian's spare time he enjoys playing laser tag with his friends or just sitting back and playing video games or watching a movie. After his completion at LSCC, Brian plans on attending Stetson or USF to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance with some work in economics, and at some point hopes to be a CPA or work in a financial aid office at a college.
The Tribune's Chief Press Member April Parsons of the University of South Florida
April Parsons was raised in Fort Walton Beach Florida where she graduated high school from the Okaloosa Academy, and went on to receive here Associate of Arts degree from Northwest Florida State College. During her time in college she has been very involved in the Student Government Association. At NWFSC she held the positions of senator, secretary, and vice president. She also spent time as the community service chair and secretary of the Florida Junior and Community College Student Government Association (Fjccsga).
April currently resides in St. Petersburg Florida. She is attending the University Of South Florida St. Petersburg where she is pursuing a degree in journalism. She is also an SGA senator and holds a position on both the legislative affairs committee and the campus media committee. April attended the 2010 Florida Model Legislature conference as a press corps member, and is pleased to serve as your 2011 Editor in Chief.
Chief Lobbyist Shawna Donnelly of Broward College
Shawna Donnelly is from Broward College she has been a Senator and Student Government President. She is also in Phi Theta kappa Honors Society and Deca. She enjoys Politics, Law, Lobbying and Business. She most definitely is looking forward to working with this years lobbyists.
Leadership Team 2010
Governor Mikel James from Central Florida Community College
Lt. Governor Shuyun Xue from the University of Florida
President of the Senate Dominique Meyer from Valencia Community College
Senate Secretary Desiree Quinto from Valencia Community College
Speaker of the House Brian Ruscher from Florida State University
Governor Knotts is currently attending the University of Florida, where he studies Political Science and History. Before attending the University of Florida for his bachelorette degree, he attended Lake Sumter Community College where he also studied Political Science, History, and Psychology. Through his desire to participate in extracurricular activities John served in a leadership position at the Florida Junior/Community College Student Government Association. John worked as a logistician for the Lake Aurora Christian Camp, and for the US Census as a Data Collection Specialist. One of his political inspirations is Thomas Jefferson. John was very excited to serve as your Governor for the 2011 Florida Model Legislature and looks forward to working with all of the participants in the simulation.
Lt. Governor Michael Sampson from Florida State University
Michael Sampson is currently a senior at Florida State University with a double major in Political Science and Philosophy. There he is the director for the FSU Students of Color Caucus, active member in the FSU Coalition for Education, board member for the Center of Participant of Education as well as involved with the Black Student Union.
Senate President Tyler Cash of Pasco Hernando Community College
Tyler Cash is a Florida Model legislature alumni from 2010 where he acted as a Senator, and chaired the Criminal Justice Committee. Tyler is currently enrolled as a sophomore at Pasco Hernando Community College and will be completing his A.A. degree this spring. After completing his studies at Pasco Hernando CC, Tyler plans to attend either University of Florida or Florida State University to major in Business and minor in Political Science. Tyler has taken part in other civic programs such as the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government at the University of Central Florida, and the Florida Model UN. During the 2010 election cycle, Tyler worked for State Representative Will Weatherford as campaign staff and successfully worked to get Weatherford re-elected.
Secretary of the Senate Shuyun Xue from the University of Florida
Shuyun Xue, a freshman from the University of Florida, is honored to serve as the senate secretary for the 2011 legislative session. She is a pre-med student pursuing a dual degree in business management and biology as well as a minor in communication studies and chemistry. She became involved with Florida Model Legislature last year and has been active in it since. Shuyun enjoyed her first conference last year and looks forward to work with everyone to make this year's conference even bigger and better. Shuyun is also involved with Phi Beta Lambda (FBLA-PBL), Model United Nations, and the Asian American Student Union at the University of Florida. She enjoys meeting new people and is always up for new challenges and advantures. She eventually hopes to open her own optometry practice and serve as a FBLA advisor. She looks forward to meeting everyone at the conference and encourages delegates to contact her atwith any questions or suggestion before and during the conference.
Speaker of the House Dominique Meyer from Florida State University
Dominique Meyer is a junior at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. She is majoring in International Affairs with focus areas in Political Science and Spanish, and is working to obtain a certificate in International Development through the FSU Global Pathways Certificate Program. Dominique is currently a member of FSU’s World Affairs Program and American Mock Trial Association Team as well as Tallahassee Community College’s Model United Nations Club. She has also sponsored many youth-led community service initiatives and has held internship positions in two congressional offices. As a member of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and a recipient of Valencia Community College’s Bill Castellano Civic Leadership Award, Dominique actively participates in collegiate organizations while placing emphasis on academic achievement and civic engagement.
Dominique has participated in a plethora of legislative simulations that educate youth on the value of civic involvement, including serving the 2010 Florida Model Legislature Session as Senate President. She is excited to return this year to the 2011 Florida Model Legislative session as the Speaker of the House. It is her goal to work cohesively with other aspiring civic leaders to foster lively, hands-on educational growth and enthusiastic debate on the floor of the Florida House chambers.
Clerk of the House Brian Emery from Lake Sumter Community College
Brian Emery will serve as this years House Clerk at Florida Model Legislature. He is currently attending Lake-Sumter Community College where he major's in Business Administration. At Brian's campus he is a very active member of the S.A.F.I.R.E club, discussing Science Fiction, Anima, and Fantasy. In Brian's spare time he enjoys playing laser tag with his friends or just sitting back and playing video games or watching a movie. After his completion at LSCC, Brian plans on attending Stetson or USF to obtain his Bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance with some work in economics, and at some point hopes to be a CPA or work in a financial aid office at a college.
The Tribune's Chief Press Member April Parsons of the University of South Florida
April Parsons was raised in Fort Walton Beach Florida where she graduated high school from the Okaloosa Academy, and went on to receive here Associate of Arts degree from Northwest Florida State College. During her time in college she has been very involved in the Student Government Association. At NWFSC she held the positions of senator, secretary, and vice president. She also spent time as the community service chair and secretary of the Florida Junior and Community College Student Government Association (Fjccsga).
April currently resides in St. Petersburg Florida. She is attending the University Of South Florida St. Petersburg where she is pursuing a degree in journalism. She is also an SGA senator and holds a position on both the legislative affairs committee and the campus media committee. April attended the 2010 Florida Model Legislature conference as a press corps member, and is pleased to serve as your 2011 Editor in Chief.
Chief Lobbyist Shawna Donnelly of Broward College
Shawna Donnelly is from Broward College she has been a Senator and Student Government President. She is also in Phi Theta kappa Honors Society and Deca. She enjoys Politics, Law, Lobbying and Business. She most definitely is looking forward to working with this years lobbyists.
Leadership Team 2010
Governor Mikel James from Central Florida Community College
Lt. Governor Shuyun Xue from the University of Florida
President of the Senate Dominique Meyer from Valencia Community College
Senate Secretary Desiree Quinto from Valencia Community College
Speaker of the House Brian Ruscher from Florida State University
