Former Student Body President Matthew Conklin can now be called President Emeritus Conklin.

During Student Government Association’s weekly meeting Wednesday, a bill was read to grant Conklin the title for his four years of service in SGA. Conklin served in a variety of positions, including serving as at-large senator, SGA treasurer and as president last school year.

SGA passed the bill unanimously, granting Conklin the President Emeritus title. Conklin said he was humbled by the bill and its passing.

“I didn’t expect it,” he said.

He said the bill is indicative of the direction SGA is moving toward.

“Student government is coming back to its roots that I talked about last year,” Conklin said. “That’s about empowering the voice of the student body and the ethos that students come first.”

Joseph Shepard, current student body president, said few past presidents have been given the emeritus title.

“To hold such a recognition such as this, it’s an honorable one, because there are not too many people who have gotten emeritus status,” he said.

Shepard said Conklin and his work in student government should not be forgotten. He added that Conklin is a selfless person, another reason he said Conklin is deserving of the title.

“He still checks on this association, he still keeps in contact with this association, and I truly believe that this is why he is truly deserving of the emeritus status,” Shepard said.

Conklin said he is proud of his work as student body president and he has no regrets from what happened.

“I’ve said this before, but we accomplished what we set out to accomplish and I have no regrets from my experience as student body president and being involved with student government the past four years,” Conklin said. “I learned more during my time in student government than any other experience I’ve had in my life.”