The Undergraduate Student Government elected Kelly Higgins as junior class senator Sunday.

Junior Tom Deiley, who served as the class representative since last May, vacated the position to study abroad.  

Higgins said she was excited to be chosen over the other candidate, and said she looks forward to working with the council.

“I’m really excited to work with all of them (USG members),” Higgins said. “My goals are just to really give my input on the initiatives and on decisions that we are making.”

President Mike Orth said Higgins’ speech fit well with USG’s three initiatives: sustainability, health and wellness and Tommie pride.

“We’re excited to have her on board,” Orth said. “I know in her speech she had a lot of great ideas for the initiatives we’re working on already, and so I think our members are really excited to work with her and include her in on our team.”

USG also approved its spring budget at the meeting. Orth said the budget will be used for internal expenses and operating class councils and events, along with conference and competition requests for clubs.

Orth said the budget was about average, but that it should still allow clubs plenty of funds for the semester.

“We’re seeing about the same budget we usually have,” Orth said. “It’s a good, healthy budget and we’re going to be able to do a lot of fun events this semester as well as be able to continue working on the three big initiatives.”

Miracle Vansiea, vice president of finance, said the Pre-Law Society was approved funds for a regional mock competition, and the Society of Women’s Engineers received funding for a conference.

Gabrielle Martinson can be reached at mart5649@stthomas.edu.