Having 50 people as witnesses, Nassrin Bonyadloo and Sara Mayorga were sworn in as the new president and vice president of the Associated Students of Cerritos College on Wednesday.

With close to 60 percent of the student vote, Bonyadloo and Mayorga won the run-off election against Claudia Valdez and Hethy Trujillo.

Sonni Carr, chief justice, was in charge of the swear-in.

Taking turns, Bonyadloo and Mayorga each swore to bare truth, faith and association to the student body of Cerritos College.

Visibly nervous, Bonyadloo repeated the oath and had to stop mid sentence and start again.

As she walked back to her place near Mayorga, Bonyadloo and Mayorga smiled at each other.

Mayorga who was constantly smiling during her turn had the same difficulty with the oath as Bonyadloo and tried desperately to repeat the chief justice’s exact words.

Afterward, during a public thank you Bonyadloo and Mayorga hugged as the audience clapped.

“We want to thank everybody who helped us in every single step, especially the FMLA (Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance), Cosmetology Club, Court Reporting Club, MEChA and if I miss somebody I’m sorry,” Mayorga said.

Bonyadloo said, “We thank everyone who voted, without you we wouldn’t be here.

“We had a great student government this year and we hope to follow in the same path next year.”

After the ceremony, Mayorga said that it was going to be an exciting year for Cerritos College.

“We are going to make a difference.”

Bonyadloo said, “I am looking forward to working with all branches of student government,” she said.

Former president of the ASCC, Constantine Rosenbauer was supportive of Bonyadloo and Mayorga.

Rosenbauer had endorsed Valdez and Trujillo during the elections.

“We have a pretty good team and we’ll see a good outcome,” Rosenbauer said.

The ceremony, which was part of the last senate meeting led by former ASCC Vice President Tim Stavrakis was attended by, among others, senators, past and present members of student government as well as administrators.

Former ASCC president Joyce Kelly took a camera with her.

Vice President of Student Services Erlinda Martinez and Steven Helfgot, the new vice president of community affairs, stepped to the front and stood next to Tim Stavrakis during the ceremony.

In the audience were unsuccessful presidential hopeful Valdez and her running mate Trujillo.

Valdez did not seem upset at the outcome of the run-off election.

“We still have our dignity because we know we worked hard and we were honest about all that we campaigned about,” Valdez said.

“We look forward to working with the president and vice president, we are all here for the benefit of the students.”

Valdez’ running partner Hethy Trujillo was also supportive.

“Even though we didn’t get to be in office, I still look forward to working with the ASCC,” Trujillo said.

Houseman, who is part of the election process from beginning to end, said that “The students are very fortunate to have student leaders with previous experience in student government”.

“The ASCC is in good hands. I look forward to working with them,” Houseman added.