The Santa Clarita Community College District Classified Senate won the California Community College Classified Senate (4CS) Model Senate award during a leadership conference in June, according to a news release from College of the Canyons officials.

The honor is bestowed upon only three of California’s 113 community colleges, during the Classified Leadership Institute Conference was held June 16 to June 18 in Ventura.

“To win the award is actually really amazing and humbling because our Senate had been in a hiatus for about 11 years, so we basically just started it up,” said Senate President Justin Hunt.

“We were doing a lot of out-of-the-box thinking and trying to bridge work and connect with the campus and other institutions in the state, and it was a complete surprise to us.”

The Classified Senate consists of the staff, which disseminates information around campus and makes sure the staff has a say in the decision-making organizations around campus to help guide the district and its growth, Hunt said.

The Senate assists classified staff members with achieving the college’s mission and goals while also creating a successful learning environment for students.

Re-instated in 2013 after an 11-year hiatus, the Classified Senate at College of the Canyons promotes the interests of all classified staff members.

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The award, which was accepted by Hunt and Classified Senate Secretary/Treasurer Andrea Varney, is entrusted to California community college senates that demonstrate drive, leadership and innovation on behalf of the classified constituency they serve and their counterparts at other institutions.

“The classified staff at COC exemplify the college’s reputation for innovation and excellence,” said COC Chancellor Dr. Dianne G. Van Hook. “Every day, they are working to move our college forward and enhance what we do for the benefit of students and the community. Our Classified Senate plays an integral role in advocating on behalf of the college’s classified staff members and I am delighted that its exemplary efforts to go above and beyond have been recognized.”

Beyond ensuring classified representation in committees and decision-making on campus, the Classified Senate has other roles and responsibilities that advances the district as whole.

Additional roles assumed by the Classified Senate include promoting professional and personal development through participation, and facilitating committee potency.

“I’m so thankful for the support of the district, the staff and faculty, administrators and our student body,” Hunt said. “They’re the reasons why we do all this in the first place and we’re thankful for all their support.”

Most recently, the award-winning senate held an open meeting on June 21 that was live streamed through WebEx, an on-demand web conferencing platform, to allow classified members to attend virtually.

Members of the College of the Canyons Classified Model Senate include Patrick Backes (President Emeritus), Scott McAfee (Vice-President), Andrea Varney (Secretary/Treasurer), Catherine Parker (Public Information Officer), Samantha Weber (Canyon Country Senator) and Mauricio Escobar (Valencia Senator).