ICCTA Gigi Campbell
Student Trustee Excellence Award
2007 Recipients


Ramon Albino
Elgin Community College

As a seminarian in the Philippines, Ramon Albino attended the 2000 student rallies to impeach the president and end totalitarian rule. When his family relocated to the United States, he enrolled at Elgin Community College where, he says, "I grabbed the opportunity to continue my desire to make a difference."

Besides serving as student trustee and student government president, he participated in two Habitat for Humanity trips to New Orleans to rebuild homes destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. He also represented student interests during the college's recent presidential search.

Albino recently graduated from ECC with a triple major of philosophy, psychology, and nursing, and plans to transfer into Cornell University's pre-law program.


Brandon Smith
Kaskaskia College

Brandon Smith has made a similar commitment to improving the quality of student life at his community college.

During his term as Kaskaskia College student trustee, he provided a voice for students to share their concerns with trustees and administrators.

He hosted open forums with the college president, allowing students to provide input regarding campus food service, textbook costs, tuition and fee increases, and expanded student activities.

Brandon Smith accepts ICCTA's 2007 Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Award scholarship from ICCTA president Clare Ollayos.
Brandon Smith accepts ICCTA's 2007 Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Award scholarship from ICCTA president Clare Ollayos

Smith also pushed for the implementation of a calculator loan program so that students without financial resources would still have the same access to school supplies as their classmates.

A talented painter, he also created several pieces of artwork displayed on campus.


"Becoming student trustee has helped me to understand that I have the ability to make a difference," Smith says. "I have learned the true values of leadership and what it means to be in the service of others to promote positive changes."


For additional information on ICCTA's Gigi Campbell Student Trustee Excellence Award, please contact Kim Villanueva at 1-800-454-2282, ext. 1.



Illinois Community College Trustees Association
401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200
Springfield, IL 62701-1711
217-528-2858 (phone)
217-528-8662 (fax)
ICCTA@communitycolleges.org (e-mail)
http://www.communitycolleges.org



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