Eddie Triste, president of Allan Hancock College’s Associated Student Body Government, was recently chosen by the Student Senate for California Community Colleges as President of the Year for the Southern California region.
“I thought I could get more done as the vice president and, frankly, I wanted the ability to vote, but when the president stepped down it was my duty to take over the position and do the best I could with it,” Triste said in a press release from the college.
An Army veteran, Triste served for six years, first in Georgia, then Hawaii, and finally Iraq. He is currently working at Hancock as a peer advisor for the College Achievement Now (CAN) program, helping low-income and first generation students navigate their way through college. Using the skills he gained in the Army as a topographical surveyor, Triste took jobs drafting for architecture companies. In 2007, he started attending Hancock to obtain a degree, working during the day and taking classes at night. Now he’s just a few classes shy transferring to a four-year university to study architecture.
Triste’s goal this past year was to get more students involved in the student government. According to the college, his efforts—hosting more than 50 student outreach events throughout the year—worked. This last spring a record-breaking number of students voted in the ASBG election.
“Eddie leads by example both on and off-campus,” said Stephanie Robb, Student Activities coordinator and ASBG advisor, in the release. “He believes in listening to his constituents and what they want and then working hard to make those things happen.”
This week’s School Scene was compiled by Intern Malory Ensor. Information should be sent to the Sun via fax, e-mail, or mail.
This article appears in Jun 16-23, 2011.
