California Community Colleges Honor Four with Classified Employee of the Year Award

Yvette Garcia, Mt. San Antonio College

Yvette Garcia has served students as an administrative assistant for more than seven years at Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC). She has demonstrated a deep commitment to the Vision 2030 pillars—People, Systems, Resources and Policy—and has also directly contributed to creating a more inclusive, supportive and equitable educational environment. Her actions reflect a deep and genuine dedication to serving not just the institution's diverse student population through her participation in college activities, but also the wider community through her professional and volunteer efforts such as her work with the Walnut High School Community Club and the Latin Parent Alliance highlighting her proactive approach in addressing educational inequities.

Melissa Jauregui, Coast Community College District

Melissa Jauregui has been with the Coast Community College District for more than five years. Her profound knowledge surrounding state laws related to community colleges, graduation requirements, transfer articulation needs and impact on federal financial aid has been instrumental in her role as the program support specialist in the educational services and technology division. Melissa has consistently proven to be a self-starter, subject-matter expert, and a diligent, hardworking employee. She works with all levels of personnel at each college to develop a common practice for recording credit for prior learning in the areas of industry certification and assessment which has garnered her respect among the workplace and developed positive relationships.

Amanda Mellett, Sierra College

Amanda Mellett’s dedication to maintaining and improving the physical infrastructure at Sierra College, coupled with her professionalism, attention to detail and work ethic, demonstrates her ongoing commitment to equitable student outcomes throughout her 23 years at the college. Amanda oversees all contract administration and informal bidding as the plant operations coordinator, where she displays high standards of good judgement and knowledge of facility management, which is vital in maintaining a safe, inclusive and high-functioning environment for all students and staff on campus. Amanda leads by example through fostering a collaborative atmosphere with those around her; investing in elevating the aesthetic appeal of the campus and devoting advocacy for Americans with Disability Act projects to account for the diverse student population Sierra College serves.

Anissa Mitchell, Barstow Community College

Anissa Mitchell has served as a student success and equity coordinator at Barstow Community College for five years. She is a product of the community college experience and is committed to expanding the goals of equitable access, success and support for all historically disadvantaged students, families and communities. Anissa is a strong advocate for social justice and is passionate about building connections and partnerships with local churches, civic organizations and youth programs through community and grassroot efforts. She is instrumental in fusing (co-)curricular themes of social justice dialogue and strives to conduct regular outreach and targeted comprehensive wraparound services that serve economically disadvantaged foster youth, LGBTQIA+ and other at-risk populations.