Football Standout Michael Washington Elected Student Government Association President

MC's newly elected SGA President Michael Washington, Jr.

Michael Washington, Jr. emerged as the winner in an online election to become Mississippi College’s new Student Government Association president.

An MC Choctaws football standout, Washington defeated classmate Chance Easterling of Pelahatchie in Tuesday’s contest. It marked the first time MC’s SGA elections were held online.

A former West Lauderdale football star, Washington is taking online classes at his home in Collinsville in recent weeks. He’s among nearly 5,000 MC students doing the same with their studies due to the worldwide COVID-19 crisis.

In his announcement on Twitter, Washington said he’s honored to serve as the new SGA president. “I first would like to thank God for blessing me with this opportunity to serve the student body! To the MC student body, I am beyond thankful and cannot wait until the time to serve you!”

Washington served this year as chair of the Campus Activities Board. That post was eliminated as part of an SGA reorganization prior to Spring Break.

An MC Choctaws football teammate, Aaron Feazelle saluted both candidates who campaigned online to become his successor. Easterling served as an SGA senator.

As MC students voted April 21, Feazelle said either SGA candidate would do an excellent job. “They want to work for students,” the business administration major said from his Diamondhead home. Both candidates served with SGA and in other roles on the Clinton campus. “They are passionate about our student body and both of them are great people with great hearts.”

Washington, 21, serves as one of the university’s Presidential Ambassadors.

The MC senior utilized time at home in March and April recovering from a knee injury the defensive lineman sustained in a September 2019 Choctaws game. A 2017 West Lauderdale High graduate, Washington expects to be ready for MC’s early September road game with Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas.

The Mississippian started all 10 games for the Blue & Gold in 2018 before the injury sidelined him last year. A former Northwest Mississippi Community College player, Michael is a mathematics major. He’s been named to the Gulf South Conference Honor Roll.

Succeeding Aaron Feazelle is part of a winning pattern for SGA officeholders. Wearing No. 9, Feazelle played wide receiver for the Choctaws under head coach John Bland. Last Spring, Aaron succeeded another MC football teammate as SGA president, his friend Anthony Jackson. A Mound Bayou resident, Jackson is an MC alumnus considering plans to attend law school.

Also elected April 21 was Damon Wright, 22, a senior who will serve as SGA vice president in 2020-2021. An MC Choctaws linebacker from Hoover, Alabama, Damon held the same post this year. A communication major, the Spain Park High graduate has been named to the Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Role.

Wright emerged with the victory against three other candidates.

Also elected as the new chief justice is Lawson Stewart, while Josh Holloway finished on top as the business manager at SGA.

The virtual elections during this health emergency allows the SGA to get its Executive Council in place. The Mississippi College student leaders should be ready to work when Fall classes begin in late August.