The UOSA inauguration ceremony Friday afternoon in the courtyard of the Oklahoma Memorial Union was a symbolic passing of the torch from this year’s student government leaders to next year’s leaders, Franz Zenteno and Cory Lloyd.

Zenteno, UOSA president, said he is honored to have the chance to serve as student body president.

“Coming to the University of Oklahoma as an exchange student, I never thought I would have the opportunity to stand here today, and I think that is the beauty of this university because this university is open to everybody,” he said.

Zenteno said he has learned many of life’s toughest lessons at OU.

“I’ve learned to fall,” Zenteno said. “I’ve learned to get up, and I’ve learned to be a leader.”

Zenteno said these lessons have taught him his full potential and said he ran for UOSA president as a way of thanking OU for teaching him tough life lessons.

He said he and Lloyd will work together like twins in the upcoming year.

“He’s like my brother,” Zenteno said.

Lloyd said he is looking forward to fulfilling every promise he and Zenteno made during the campaign.

“Three hundred sixty-five days from now, we are committed to stand before you with a completed checklist,” Lloyd said.

Outgoing UOSA President Katie Fox said she was proud of Zenteno and Lloyd’s accomplishments and offered some advice about the job.

“The advice I would give Franz and Cory as they start planning for next year is to reach out to the non-traditional students,” Fox said.

“It is these students who don’t know and don’t ever plan to get involved that make the most impact on this campus and in student government.”

Fox said she considered herself to be a non-traditional student before she became involved in UOSA her sophomore year.

“You should reach out to those students who don’t know they have the potential to lead,” Fox said. “It will give them a great opportunity to explore their strengths and try something they never thought they could do.”