At the end of the Associate Students Inc. meeting Wednesday Vice President of Student Affairs Christine Hopkins stepped down from the podium and her two month interim stint as executive vice president.

Next meeting, the new executive vice president, junior Robbie Abelon will report to duty.

The board confirmed both of President Angel Barajas’ appointments: Robbie Abelon, a government-history major and former AS secretary of state affairs, is now the executive vice president and Bonnie Sugiyama, graduate student and PRIDE coordinator, has taken on the vice president of finance role.

“It was completely unexpected because this is nothing that I planned for,” Abelon said.

Abelon said he hadn’t even known of the open positions until he returned from his three-week volunteer effort in the hurricane devastated areas of Louisiana, and found that applications were still being accepted for the ASI spots.

When held to a board vote, Abelon’s appointment was close to unanimous ?” only one member abstained.

“He’s pretty much the most qualified candidate,” said Angel Barajas, ASI president.

Sugiyama, who was confirmed unanimously by her board peers, said she plans to represent the students to the best of her ability in the board finance position. Because her appointment leaves her former position, the director of education, open, Sugiyama said she plans to assist Barajas in finding a suitable replacement.

Abelon’s action plan that he said he will pursue while in ASI includes creating a scholarship database, advocating credit-awarded internships, working with Sacramento State President Alexander Gonzalez on retention issues, increasing the ASI scholarship fund, and taking advantage of the Capitol proximity to the school through student programs.

Following the confirmation of the two positions, Barajas smiled and declared the executive board complete for the first time in months.