SGA's 99th president bids farewell, closes out his term

Following this year’s Student Government Association (SGA) executive election, SGA President Caleb Smith is waving his final goodbyes to the organization as his term comes to an end.  

Smith, a senior risk management and insurance major from Gadsden, Alabama, took the presidential helm in April of last year after being involved with SGA since his freshman year.  

“It has been the honor of my life to serve as the 99th President of the Troy University Student Government Association,” Smith said. “I have enjoyed every moment of representing the entire student body this year and am so grateful for the opportunity to do so.” 

For Smith, his term as SGA president can be defined by one word – trailblazing.  

“When I stepped into office in April of last year, I had a vision to make SGA the central student organization on campus, and for us to be the true guiding light for all Trojans,” Smith said. “Through ideas, events and initiatives that seemed daunting at first to undertake, I intentionally asked our members to do these things so that we could get to that overarching goal of being a central figure, and now, looking back, I can wholeheartedly say that we have made major strides toward that goal in just one short year.” 

During his presidency, Smith held Troy’s very first SGA press conference, oversaw the Senate’s passage of the Trojan ID redesign bill and worked alongside Mayor Jason Reeves and the City of Troy to fix the erosion on Sorority Hill nicknamed the “Sorority Hill Bump.” 

Additionally, Smith held Troy’s first ever State of the Student Body address and the Dreams to Reality event, both of which Smith looks back on fondly and regards as two of SGA’s pinnacle of events of the year.  

According to Smith, one of the biggest things he learned throughout his term is good things take time. 

“While we have made progress on a lot of great things around campus, there are still things that have not taken effect just yet,” Smith said. “As student leaders, it is our job to start the conversation on different topics and make diligent efforts to see them to fruition, but on the flip side, be happy if it does not happen by the end of the term.  

“It is okay to be satisfied with the work that you have done and be confident that you put your best foot forward.” 

Now, as Smith hands the reigns to SGA’s 100th President Christopher Hood, he finds no worries in the future of the organization and their ability to continue with the momentum he set in place.  

“It is such a bittersweet moment to pass the torch to an incoming SGA President, but I am so excited to see all the amazing things that Chris will do while in the position,” Smith said. “I know that he and his team will excel in all that they do, and I truly find comfort in that.  

“I am confident that all of the hard work that I put in will be put to good use and that he will continue on the legacy as the leader of the student body.” 

Smith is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Global Business in May, pursue his master's in business administration (MBA) through Troy Online after graduation and plans to attend law school in the fall of 2027.