College of the Canyons unveiled the newly named Michele Jenkins Softball Team Room on Tuesday to honor the board member’s support of not only the softball program but the school as well. 

Jenkins passed on Feb. 6, 2023 and in March of that same year, the Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees decided to name the team room after her legacy.

She attended COC when it first opened in fall 1969 and went on to serve as president for six terms, vice president for five and clerk for seven — she is deemed the school’s longest-serving board member. 

Jenkins was also a member of many committees such as the Institute for Culinary Education Capital Campaign Committee, Measure “C” and “M” Advisory Committees, the Health and Welfare Benefits Committee and more.

As an avid supporter of the Cougars softball team, Jenkins would often be found attending games and practices whenever she had the chance.

She would usually bring the girls cold bottles of water on especially hot days and would always try to be involved in whatever way she could.

“The main thing I felt like she bestowed on our girls was that she cared about us and about what those girls were gonna do out on the field,” said softball head coach John Wissmath. “And for me, that was important because it was almost like I had another assistant coach who was almost like a team mom.”

Wissmath said Jenkins was out there until the end, even though it became tough for her to make it to games — but that was just the type of person she was.

“She loved the students, she loved the college so much,” said Michele’s husband, Dr. Greg Jenkins. “We started so long ago, people forget about that.” 

Jenkins and her husband were both inducted into COC’s Hall of Fame in 2000 and Michele was re-elected to the COC Board one last time in 2021. 

There is no doubt that Michele’s impact on the Canyons community will last another lifetime — her dedication to the school was unmatched on every level. 

COC has been home to the Lee Smelser Court and Mike Gillespie Field, but now, it also exhibits the Michele Jenkins Team Room.

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