“What exactly do you know about Student Government? Can you give me 60 seconds to tell you all about it?”

With that, president-elect Ancel Pratt III launches into a condensed, lightning-speed speech covering all the facets of Student Government, never pausing for breath or slowing his pace. When his minute’s up, Pratt tilts his head and smiles.”Sorry,” he says. “I got so used to talking fast during elections that now I can’t stop.”

On April 4, Pratt, a 24-year-old marketing and management double major, was elected Student Government president for the 2003-2004 school year. It has been a long road for Pratt, who entered FAU in 1997. A year later, he got involved with SG when he became advertising chair for the Program Board, FAU’s primary event-planning program. “A friend told me a position on the board was available,” Pratt says. “I wanted to make students happy and build up morale on campus.”

Since joining SG in ’98, Pratt has also served as an ambassador for the Florida African American Student Association, director of Homecoming, and president of the Black Student Union. During the past year, he acted as SG vice president under Pablo Paez.

Throughout most of that time, Pratt also was a full-time student and employee. He has worked at Publix, Lens Crafters and ANC Rental Corporation. “People look at me and think, ‘He’s been here since ’97? What’s he been doing?'” Pratt says. “Well, I’ve been working full time, too.”

Pratt admits that he’s a workaholic and perfectionist, and says his biggest challenge next year will be maintaining a balance between SG and his classes. “I have to make sure I don’t overwork myself,” Pratt says. “The vice president is supposed to work 20 hours a week. This year, I averaged about 38 hours.”

Outgoing President Paez feels Pratt’s ambition will serve him well next year.

“To be successful, you need to have intelligence, creativity and courage,” Paez says. “The presidency is a 24 hour-a-day job. Ancel’s taken the initiative on a number of issues and that’s what it takes to be a good president.”

Pratt’s main goal is making SG more visible to FAU’s students. “I want my staff to be very educated about FAU and SG so they can better inform the students,” he says. “We want to service them through enhancement of our programs, integrity of our staff, and commitment to the students.”

In fact, Pratt says the first thing he’s going to do after he officially takes over May 7 is start hiring. “I want to make a strong transition from VP to president and I want to do interviews and hire the best people possible for my staff,” he says. “Then we’ll go out and get feedback from the students and other organizations to find out what they think needs to be improved at FAU.”

Pratt also plans to make sure students know how SG can help them. “We’re directly affecting your college career,” he says. “We’re lobbying, doing petitions to save the Bright Futures scholarship, and letting you know what your rights and privileges are.”

Pratt would like the SG office to become a popular place on campus. “We’re going to be customer service-oriented. Help us help you,” he says. “I know it sounds corny, but it’s true. If you have any concerns or issues, please come in and let us know so we can address them. Otherwise, we’re not doing our job.

“There are certain things we may not have control over directly, but we can affect them indirectly,” Pratt continues. “One thing we’ve directly created is the Night Owls program. Indirectly, we’ve put students on the Board of Trustees and other committees to express our opinions. We are your voice.”

Last year, Paez and Pratt established an FAU daytime shuttle program, funded the construction of a golf cart storage facility, and helped develop the Marching Owls band. One of Pratt’s hopes for next year is the start-up of a suggestion box program on campus. “The boxes have been done before,” he says, “but we want to bring them back.”

Paez is confident that Pratt will be a good president. “He’s going to build off the foundation we created last year,” Paez says. “I look forward to seeing what he accomplishes as president. He’s the right person to take FAU to the next level.”

After he graduates next year, Pratt plans to remain in South Florida. “I’m probably going to stay in Ft. Lauderdale and serve the community there,” he says. “I may also teach.”

Until then, Pratt is dedicated to serving the community of FAU.

“By the time I leave,” he says, “I want FAU to be one of the paramount institutions in Florida.”