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The Executive Board (E-Board for short) consists of seven student leaders that help brainstorm and plan ideas to keep the Catholic Student Union thriving with fun! Here is the E-Board for 2018-2019.
President: Thomas Hammen
Hello! My name is Thomas Hammen and I am a son of the Father, a brother to Jesus, and a temple of the Holy Spirit. It is an unparalleled joy to serve the Catholic Student Union at FSU, TCC, & FAMU as President this year.
I was raised in the 863, and any success I have experienced I attribute to my wonderful parents, John and Judy Hammen. My younger brother Anthony is a sophomore at UCF, and my little sister Violet is in the sixth grade! There is nothing like a Hammen.
This spring, I will be graduating from Florida State University with degrees in Political Science, and Editing, Writing, and Media. In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym with my brothers, reading any book you place in my hands, and Vale Food Co.
You are unique and unrepeatable. You have a story to tell. You always have a place in the Catholic Student Union family. Let’s hang; I’m excited to take on this year together! Rule V. tlh14g@my.fsu.edu
Vice President: Kaitlyn Russo
Hello! My name is Kaitlyn Russo. I am currently in my fourth and final undergraduate year here at FSU. I will be graduating this spring with majors in French and Religious studies. When I arrived here in the fall of ‘15, I didn’t know many people and had only a small idea of what college would be like. I dipped my toes in quite a few things around campus, and finally found CSU the fall of my sophomore year. I can honestly say that this community is unlike any other offered by FSU. Since I’ve gotten involved, these people, this family, has been by my side laughing hysterically, dancing around, cram-studying in Stroz, exploring Tallahassee, and everything in between. They have shown me Jesus and I am so ready to give back by serving as VP this year! Things I really love include holidays, peanut-butter-banana toast, and being awake before there’s any traffic on Tennessee street.
Secretary: Bianca Forte
Hey friends! My name is Bianca Forte, and I am a junior at Florida State University. I am double majoring in Criminology and Psychology. I was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida, and I attended Catholic school before coming to FSU. I originally got involved in the Catholic Student Union because I wanted to make friends who shared similar beliefs as me. Diving into CSU my freshman year, I found more than just friends. I found a family who brings me so much joy and who has helped me develop a deeper relationship with our Heavenly Father. I am so excited to serve as secretary this year and to return the love and joy in which this community has shown me. Also, some fun facts about me are that I love peanut butter, running, my family, and Jesus. I am excited to meet you all, so please introduce yourself, and we can grab tea at one of Tallahassee’s many coffee shops.
Treasurer: Thomas Corzo
Hello! My name is Thomas Corzo and I am a fourth year industrial engineering student here at FSU. Born and raised in south Florida, I grew up accustomed to hurricanes, pub subs, and humidity. Needless to say Tallahassee winters are cold enough for me; catch me in a flannel pretty often. Some things I enjoy are baseball (Go Red Sox), NASCAR, sushi, and Cuban coffee. I can quote almost every word spoken by Fr. Mike Schmitz and every song lyric sung by Penny and Sparrow; you should check them out. I have two incredible parents and an amazing younger sister. When I first got to FSU, a getting involved in a Catholic community was not a priority, but God the Father’s relentless pursuit of my heart thankfully led me in the direction of some men in gray and the St. Thomas More social hall and I haven’t looked back since. I have become part of a family. A family living out this wonderful adventure with Christ. What a gift. You are loved and you’ll always have a home at CSU. I am beyond excited and blessed with the opportunity to serve you all this year and spread the love and joy of Jesus Christ across Tallahassee!
Historian: Pietro Damasceno
Hey everyone! I'm Pietro Damasceno and I'm a junior studying digital media production with a minor in entrepreneurship. I love movies, my family, and my wonderful girlfriend, Gaby. Growing up in a small town in northwestern Pennsylvania, I gained a love for the outdoors and enjoyed the simple things in life. Due to work, my family and I moved to south Florida to enjoy the sunny weather, and I couldn't complain. I claimed Florida State as my home in August of 2016 and I couldn't have made a better decision. One of the most pivotal moments of my college career was the CSU fall retreat in 2016, which plunged me headfirst into a pool of love, and left my heart filled with a joy that felt like I was eternally fulfilled. Although I called myself Catholic for the first 18 years of my life, it wasn't until 2016 that I realized what it meant. My advice for any future college students is to surround yourself with those who are better than you, run towards your passions at a full sprint, and simply love anyone who gets in your way. No matter what you need, God will provide.
Pastoral Council Representative: Lauren Kubelka
Howdy! My name is Lauren Kubelka. I love peanut butter, baseball, my family, bacon, sunflowers, and dancing. I was born and raised in the great nation of Texas, until I moved to Florida going into my freshman year of high school. I was always involved with youth group, but did not truly embrace the Catholic faith until I made the decision to postpone college for a year and be a missionary with NET (National Evangelization Team) Ministries after graduating high school in 2016. Giving up this year of my life and being chosen to serve as a missionary at Providence Academy in Plymouth, Minnesota was the hardest, but most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. I discovered (with many tears and grace) what it meant to live life as a Catholic woman. After finishing my year of mission work, I was accepted to FSU to study Meteorology and with little convincing needed, decided to be a part of CSU, where this incredible community welcomed me with love and support from the first moment I walked through the O’Brien Social Hall for a summer Spirit Night. I’m SO excited to repay this same love and support for this incredible community by serving as the Pastoral Council Representative this year!
Outreach Coordinator: Tyler Gates
Hello! My name Tyler Gates. I am from Palm Harbor, FL and I am a senior studying Biology at FSU. I love the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Tampa Bay Lightning and FSU Football. When I was in middle school and high school I was involved with EDGE and Lifeteen. Those 7 years of youth ministry allowed me to meet people who challenged me in my faith and have ended up being people that I am still friends with today. However, when I came to FSU I wanted to find a community similar to what I had experienced back at home. It took me a semester of being in college to realize that I really needed CSU. I remember the first time I came to a CSU event and I felt so welcomed and since that day I haven’t looked back. It was the best decision I have made in college. Not only did I found a Catholic community, but I found a group of men and women who were living out their life daily to grow closer to Christ. CSU has helped me through the good and not so good in college, while doing this they have helped me to grow in my faith. It is not easy in college to live out your faith because of our society, but with this group of Catholic men and women it makes it easier. CSU has become a family for me, and I am very happy this year to be able to give back to this community that has done so much for me by serving as the Outreach Coordinator.