Editor’s Note: In recognition of President’s Day, the Daily looked to past presidents of Iowa State’s Government of the Student Body.

Although it’s possible some of their efforts have gone unnoticed, those that serve Iowa State at the Government of the Student Body president endure a long 12 months working to represent the interests of thousands of students.

The Daily spoke to two former GSB presidents, Matt Craft (1999-2000) and Andy Tofilon (2001-2002), about how they’re using the skills they sharpened while serving ISU students to get where they are now.

“All the past presidents are role models and helped to shape what GSB is and what it does,” said T.J. Schneider, the current GSB president.

Craft said one of his biggest accomplishments during his term was securing funding for the bus shelter at the commuter lot.

“When I drive by the stadium for football games, it’s nice to see the shelter and know the role I got to play,” he said.

Craft said serving as GSB president helped him develop as a person and gain skills such as hard work and patience — skills he believes will carry on to any position in his life. He said he was given the chance to meet a wide variety of accomplished people as the GSB president, but he still had to prove himself as a worthy person.

Craft is finishing law school at the University of Iowa, although he “remains a Cyclone through and through.” He has already accepted a job in Waterloo as an associate attorney with Randall and Nelson.

“As long as I manage not to fail and pass the bar, all will go according to plan,” he said.

Tofilon said his term helped him to become an attractive candidate for many jobs.

“Employers wanted to know more about what I had done,” he said.

“They were impressed someone could represent such a large number of people at such a young age.”

Tofilon graduated in December and is working as a marketing specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.

Schneider called Tofilon a hard-working president. “He dug in the trenches to get things done,” Schneider said.

Schneider said he paid close attention to how past presidents handled situations and their administration. Because the presidents before him were so influential, he is working on initiatives they started while they were in office.

“Every president has their own neat characteristics,” Schneider said.

Craft was a creative and energetic leader who also knew how to get things done, Schneider said.

Ben Golding, who served from 2000 to 2001, was well-recognized within the campus community. His recognition gave his respect from the campus. Throughout his term, Golding was looking out for the future of Iowa State and its students, Schneider said.

Golding was unavailable for comment.

As president, Schneider said he tries to take bits and pieces from each president before him and mix them in with his own style to make the GSB administration the best it can be.