PP Council Elections

PP Council is your First Year Council, run by PPs for PPs. PP Council enhances the First Year experience, from events to teams to academic advocacy. Read below to learn about your PP Council candidates.

Vote here

Presenting this year’s PP Council Candidates…

President

Sara Ye

Jeffrey Feng

I’ve already been a part of a leadership executive team for over 2 years, investing up to 20 hours per week. I have a total of around 800 hours in leadership and community service. My fundraising team raised over 40 thousand dollars in the span of a single year. I’ve helped plan and run over 18 events that engaged as many as 200 students. In short, I have the skills and experience to be the best president for you.
I have two main goals. Firstly, I hope to ensure that the student body has someone who is determined to hear their interests, and fight for their concerns. We deserve someone who will spend the time and effort to understand their needs. I’ve already personally surveyed over 83 first year engineers for what they want to see in the EUS, because I care about your interests, and it's ultimately why I’m here.
Secondly, I plan to encourage and motivate te council to fulfill the visions they had for our engineering. Because the best work of those on the council, equates to the best experience for all of you. But I’m also going to assist them in every way I can. I will be the first to support them in their endeavors, and work alongside them to achieve their best work, for all of you. Because if they’re going to create an experience for you, then I guarantee I’m going to be a part of it.
Your vote, your interests, our Engineering!

Matt Howie

FIRST GINGER PRESIDENT!! Hi, I'm Matt, and I'm (obviously) running for PP Prez. I'm hoping to bridge the gap between student support services, and students who have trouble accessing these services. I also want to make free snacks available for first years in our existing lounge. Speaking of our lounge, it needs to be renovated! I want to make it absolutely glorious, with your help. Whoever you decide to support, I'll respect your opinion, but I would like totally be so happy if you vote for me.

Additional Candidates:

Adrian Van Dyke

Jake Spagrud

Vice President

Michelle Zhang

Léa Serrano

Hey guys, my name is Lea, and I am so excited to present my candidacy for vice president of the PP council! What pushed me to apply for this position is the incredible community I found in the EUS. During the first few weeks of university, I got scared and felt really homesick, something that a lot of us here can relate to. But thanks to the EUS, I had a place to meet like-minded people and find incredible friends. I believe that as a community, we can get through the hardships of first year engineering, may it be the lack of sleep or the inevitable pain of physics 170. Throughout the last 7 years, I have taken on the honorable position of president in my student council. There, I planned events very similar to E-week which is here a tradition overseen by the PP vice president. The role I held there is what gives me the confidence to fulfill the responsibilities and expectations that come with being a VP. I find my motivation in wanting to give back to the community that showed me the sense of belonging I was longing for. Hard work is fulfilling but having people to celebrate those milestones with is even more important in university (winning E-week being one of them). I want to make sure that you spend the most incredible first year possible, so let’s all come together and make it a reality!

Tanuj Sharda

Academic Rep

Akshay Chauhan

Dahae Yun

Hi PPs! My name is Dahae (she/her), and I am running for PP Academic Representative. As first year engineers, one of our biggest concerns are academics. Although studying is a big part of university, I don’t want you to spend your freshman year worrying about your grades and miss out on all the fun out there. I want you to find the joy of learning beyond quizzes and exams, and enter your second year full of passion and excitement. As your Academic rep, my power is work and time (physics joke, btw). I will work for a community where everyone can freely share questions and ideas about academics. This will be a place for each one of you to bring your own strength to help other PPs. Whenever you face a challenge, I will make sure you can get the right support from the right person and place. No one will struggle alone. During exam seasons, I will organize the resources from tutorial videos to past midterms, and ensure those resources are easily accessible. All of these are just empty promises if I don’t put in my time to make them happen. I am ready to happily spend my time working for you, and I look forward to working with you. Together, we can be the best team. PPs Rule The World!

Akash Karthikeyan

Engineering is all about solving problems, not just identifying them—and that’s my approach as your Academic Rep. Whether it’s an overwhelming assignment load, unclear prof communication, or just feeling lost in the chaos, I won’t just listen—I’ll act. I’ll bring solutions, not complaints, to the council.
In Grade 12 student council, when everyone complained that our dances were lame, I didn’t just nod along—I took action. We revamped the playlists, upgraded the decor, and added a photo booth that everyone loved. It wasn’t just about throwing a better party; it was about listening and making real changes that people wanted.
If you’re tired of assignment deadlines, confusing course materials, or feeling unheard, I’m here to turn frustrations into solutions. Imagine real-time updates on assignments, useful review sessions, and feedback surveys that get results. I’m always a DM away, ready to hear your concerns and take them straight to the table.
I’m the friend who’s always willing to help—whether it’s explaining a tricky math problem before a test or just being there when someone needs to vent. Trust is built by showing up consistently, and that’s my promise to you.
We’re all first years navigating a whirlwind of assignments, labs, and lectures that feel like they’re at 2x speed. I get it—I’m in the same boat, and I know how much it helps to have someone on your side. I want to make this year the best for all of us! Let’s make First Year less

Callum Chan

Hello Everyone, I’m Callum, and I’m excited to run for Academic Representative on the PP Council! I believe in creating an environment where everyone can excel academically while enjoying the aspects of student life. Balancing the demands of engineering studies with the fun and camaraderie of our community is essential to me, and I want to help everyone navigate that balance effectively. With three years of tutoring experience, I’ve developed strong communication skills and a deep understanding of the challenges students face. My time leading in community-wide councils has equipped me with the leadership and collaborative skills necessary to connect students and faculty. I also believe that my past failures would be my greatest strength in fully fulfilling this role. They have taught me resilience and adaptability qualities that will help me succeed in this position. Together, we can create an inclusive atmosphere where every student thrives. Vote for me, and let’s make our academic journey both memorable and successful!

Social Coordinator

William White

Sports and Charity Representative

Khushaan Virk and Hannah Piatek

Vantage Representative

Zhanming Sun

Social Media and Graphics Representative

Krisalyn Yeung & Stephanie Almanzor

As candidates for your graphics and social media reps, our main goal is to connect and entertain the pp community through our social media. With our extensive experience, as well as feedback and support from you guys, pp graphics and media will be the best its ever been! Through creating a strong network and brand, you can expect consistent content and a variety of media. As our social media is a big part of what the pps represent, It is extremely important that we get represented accurately in a fun and welcoming way! Don't miss out on a media packed year and vote Kris Yeung and Steph Almanzor for 2024!!

Andrew Li

Hi everyone! My name is Andrew Li and I’m excited to be your PP Social Media and Graphics Representative. As someone who values community and someone who’s passionate about design, I believe I have the skills and vision to make this the best PP Class ever… PERIOD. I ran 10+ social media accounts during my time at high school including multiple varsity sports, multiple non-profit organizations, the graduating class, and the student council. With experience in Adobe, Canva, photography and being chronically online, I know what you guys want to see. I see this as an opportunity to bring PP’s closer together through social media, especially in our generation. I have already launched my campaign, “a meme a day keeps the failing grades away” which is exactly what it suggests. Everyday, I will upload a meme to which all us engineers can relate to and laugh at. A great start to the day considering the infinite and nonstop assignments given to us. In the end, I’m a student like you guys too. Outside of our endless grind, I’m an athlete on the UBC Men’s Tennis Team, avid SUPERCELL enthusiast, and a little social butterfly. Excited to meet everyone and I hope to earn your vote in this upcoming election next week!

Susana Phuong and Katrina Warren

Hi, we’re Katrina and Susana, and we’re running for Social Media and Graphics Representatives for the PP Council. With our experience on the yearbook team and our shared passion for design, we’re excited to create content that keeps everyone informed and engaged. We stay updated on the latest design and social media trends, so you can expect fresh and interactive content that resonates with our diverse community.
Our goal is to make communication accessible, ensuring everyone is aware of council events and resources. We plan to use both digital and physical mediums to reach as many students as possible while fostering a sense of connection among all first-years.
We’re eager to collaborate with you to make our social media fun, engaging, and reflective of our experiences. Let’s work together to make this a memorable year for all of us!

Treasurer

Alex Musker

Christian Kranemann

Hi there hello, More often than not in organizations like our PP council, margins are tight, and willingness for funding scarce. Having worked with spreadsheets since middle school, I will fight to make sure that what we have reaches every First Year and perhaps even more. As treasurer, I may not be making sweeping improvements to the PP council. But my job is to ensure the people making those changes have the money and freedom to do so. Thank you for at least considering me, and have a good day.

Vanessa Chapman

Hey PPs, I’m Vanessa and I’m running to be your treasurer this year! I’m kind, funny and best of all good with money! If elected, I will work to make this year the best year, starting with free food for first years at all events! I know we all work hard, so I plan on making sure the budget is well distributed so we can have a great time at barbecues, sporting events and socials. While treasurer may not be all decisions about food & events, I am prepared to jump into the spreadsheets and make sure the club stays on budget. In high school I was director of finance for the leadership club and was a founding member of my student council, so I’m ready to dive into being treasurer this year! As your treasurer (hopefully), I will always be open to your ideas, so feel free to chat about any ideas you have with the budget. A vote for me is a vote for an awesome year! Finally, I plan to save funds to make sure we can rule E-WEEK, and have an awesome time at the PP Prom!

Cooper Nam

Hi, my name is Cooper and I’m running to be YOUR PP Treasurer. During high school, I was an active student leader who had experience managing money through my role as an executive on the athletic council. I had a great time doing that, so I’m taking the opportunity to be involved in the student body again. If elected, I have goals to keep the council stabilized, and maybe add in some ideas of my own. All in all, keep it super fun. I love to play sports (baseball in particular), hang out with my friends, play sports AND hang out with my friends (Spikeball or Ultimate :)), or do a bit of reading. I’m super excited to be running, and I hope you’ll vote for me as your Treasurer.

Additional Candidates:

Mariam Alshaikh

Secretary

Elliot Clark

Alina Huang

Hi, thanks for taking a look at this! I want to join the PP council because since I’ve joined UBC, I’ve felt like a part of the engineering community and the EUS is a big reason why. As secretary, I plan to foster this community further so that first years feel connected.
I’ve had 2 years of experience being a secretary in high school, helping plan events such as dances, carnivals, and pep rallies. I’m drawn to the role because I love it when things are organized. I have 3 to do lists (if you see me around campus, feel free to ask me about them!), and I love myself a good flow chart.
Being organized is an important part of the role. If a form submission deadline is noted down incorrectly and missed, an event (say, a group study session or a celebratory party) might be pushed back.
During my 2 years as a secretary, I took meeting minutes so that ideas presented in meetings were recorded and club members could catch up on what they missed. I made sure any action items were bolded so that club members could easily view tasks. On the PP council, my experience means that ideas proposed by your elected council members will be remembered and that events are smoothly carried out.
Choosing me as your PP Council secretary means choosing a year filled with well-organized events that reflect your wants!

Don’t forget to vote for your PP Council Candidates SOON!

The Legend of the PPs

So why are First Years called PPs? Although we don’t know for sure, we have a pretty good guess that reached us in a form of The Legend of the PPs.

Back in the day, when the old Cheeze Factory was the gathering place of UBC engineers, all decisions of the society were made during weekly tEUSday meetings. Departments spoke in alphabetical order, and to keep first years in the last spot, they were referred to as ZZs. First years obviously thought that it was unfair, but could not do much about it for some time.

However, these meetings operated in a somewhat democratic way, which meant that votes were won by whoever was the loudest. One day, enough ZZs rallied together and passed a motion to rename themselves AAs. This left upper years quite upset, so they banded together and passed a motion declaring that tEUSday meetings would be held in reverse alphabetical order. This carried on back and forth until it was decided that the first years could be called whatever they wanted. Somehow, this ended in the name PP, which stuck.

Today, the president of PP Council sits on the EUS Council, meaning they have a vote on the EUS Council. Although there is no official policy regarding the order of speaking, PPs present their updates after all department clubs.

Positions

President

The President leads PP Council - they are the official spokesperson of all first years, they sit on EUS Council and the AMS First Year Committee, and they supervise the PP Councillors.

Vice President

The Vice President supports the president, and takes on special projects. They are responsible for coordinating the PP E-WEEK team, and making sure the PP Chariot and Ball Model are up to scratch!

Academic Rep

The Academic Rep works alongside the EUS VP Academic to improve the academic experience of the First Year class. They represent the PPs alongside the President at Grand Council and other academic meetings.

Social Coordinator

The Social Coordinator is - as you could probably guess - responsible for social events! They strive to enhance student life and the social environment for the PPs. They sit on the EUS events committee, and meet with the social/events coordinators of Department & Ex-O clubs.

Sports & Charity rep

Sports & Charity Reps oversee sports and charity events and services, from coordinating PP UBC REC and EUS interdepartmental teams to coordinating PP involvement in EUS charity events like Blood Drives or Movember.

Vantage Rep

Our Vantage Reps focus on the academic and social interests of Vantage One Engineering students. They’re responsible for getting Vantage students engaged & involved with PP Council (and the EUS!)

Social Media & Graphics Reps

Social Media and Graphics reps are responsible for promotion and communication regarding all events and services of the PP Council - they maintain the PP Council Instagram and other socials, create posters, and make the PP Slipstick (yearbook) pages.

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for the money! This means recording all expenditures by PP Council, maintaining the PP Council budget, copying and submitting receipts to the EUS VP Finance, and keeping PP Council up to date with its financial status.

Secretary

The Secretary is responsible for internal affairs; room bookings for meetings, taking and submitting PP Council minutes, and keeping PP policy up-to-date.