March 28, 2024 • 8 mins
Chancellor Barnes sits down with SOCCCD Student Trustee, Katelyn Hidde to discuss what led her to this role, what she focused on while in office, and her plans for the future. Read more about the Board of Trustees.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:07):
Welcome listeners to the first episodeof SOC
CCD Voices, where we delvedeep into the heart of education,
exploring stories, insightsand perspectives that shape our learning
landscape here in the South Orange CountyCommunity College District.
I'm your host, Julianna
Asperin.
Barnes, and we have a special episodein store for you.
(00:27):
We are honored to be joined by studenttrustee Katelyn Hidde,
who has been serving as a student voice
on the board of trusteessince April of 2023.
Through the role of student
trustee, Katelyn has a unique opportunityto champion issues at a policy level
to serve some of the greatest needsof her student peers on both campuses
of SaddlebackCollege and Irvine Valley College.
(00:48):
So without further ado, let's delve in.
Good morning, Katelyn.
Good morning. Thanks for having me.
Yes, Nice to see you.
It's a pleasureto have you here on our inaugural show.
And so to kick things off,could you share a little bit
with our listeners, a little bitabout yourself, such as your major,
(01:08):
involvements on campus,and what inspired you
to run for the student trustee positionhere in our district?
Absolutely.
Well, it'smy second year at Saddleback College.
I'm currently majoringin hydrological science and policy.
Last year I had the honor of serving
as the Senator of Campus Sustainabilityon our senate--our board last year.
I also had the honor of attending the DCA SAC
conference where I was able to heara lot of my peers from IVC and Saddleback
(01:30):
student testimoniesabout their experiences on campus,
and it inspired me to get more involvedwith the student government
and the board of Trustees.And that's why I decided to run.
Awesome.
So, it sounds like
you were very engaged and very involvedand so obviously that piqued your interest.
So, it's evident that you bring a unique position--
(01:52):
unique perspective to the table.
Fostering student engagement
and empowerment is pivotalin any educational institution.
And so, as the liaison betweenthe student body and the administration,
what initiatives or changes
have you advocated for during your tenureas student trustee?
So, basic needs has been a huge topicof concern across our campuses for years.
(02:14):
So, it's been something that I really held close to me throughout my term.
I've been able to work closely with EOPSand the CARE Corner at both schools;
that's been really influential
in helping to promote basic needs programsall throughout our campuses.
I've had the honor of working with themmore directly on projects
such as our canned food drives,but also in just making sure
that the existing programs are availableand accessible to our students.
(02:35):
And I know that this isn'tjust a priority for me.
I know across our board,our fellow trustees have also expressed
a strong, strong interestin promoting basic needs
as well as studenthousing on our campuses.
It's been a pleasure to talkto a lot of our other student
leaders, veterans,and members of the Promise Program
just to see how student housingwould affect them
and how they would like to seeit implemented on our campuses.
So, it's been really helpfulto kind of be able to talk
(02:56):
with our students about that and howthese changes would affect them directly.
That's beautiful.
I really appreciate youilluminating the food
and housing insecuritiesamong our students.
And I know just firsthand that you'vereally been a champion and advocate
for our students who are experiencing food and housing insecurity.
So, really appreciate hearing that.
(03:16):
And clearly, you're superdedicated to the student experience.
And, I have always believed, as well, that athriving educational institution involves
addressing diverse needs of studentsor social cultural needs and reality.
So, really appreciate hearing that.
So, what
advice do you have forfellow student students
(03:39):
aiming to make the most of their communitycollege experience?
I love this question.
I would definitely say to get involvedas much as possible.
Obviously, staying engaged in classroomsand keeping up with your class
work is super important,but I definitely recommend
any student at any collegeto get involved as much as possible.
I think that's a little differentfor any student.
I mean, I know for me,it was through student government
(04:00):
and that's been really a waythat I've been able to connect with
our campuses and have more social aspectswith our different students.
But, I know that a lot of other peoplewill join clubs, sports,
anything like that, I think is superhelpful to being a well-rounded student.
And, I think that also getting involved,for many students,
may mean just reaching outto counselors, the EOPS program,
and just taking advantageof all the opportunities
(04:21):
and support programsthat we have on campus.
So, I would encourage any studentto get involved in those ways as well.
That's awesome.
Well, so, obviously your
your pathway into involvementwas through student government, but
I really appreciate you talking aboutthe other support services that we have.
And then, obviously, we have a bunchof athletic events and performing arts.
It's very robustand comprehensive at both of our colleges.
(04:43):
So, I appreciate you talking about that.
I can't believe it.
I feellike you just stepped into this role,
but your term on the board of trusteeswill soon come to an end.
So, is there any one thing that you'reparticularly proud
of with regard to your accomplishmentsthis year?
(05:05):
And, looking ahead, what are some ofyour plans for the future?
I think I've been most proud ofjust the way I've been able
to help our students grow as leadersand advocate for their needs on campus.
It's always an honor
to watch my peers behind the microphone,speaking at the trustees meetings,
talking about their experiences on campusor student houseless-ness,
maybe their insecuritiesas far as basic needs.
And, I'm also just proud of the amountof students and faculties
(05:27):
that I've been able to work alongside.
I think one of the most special thingsabout our California Community
Colleges is just the diverse communitythat we've grown here, whether it's age,
experience,level, career goals, educational goals,
I think it's been really rewarding
to be ableto speak with so many different people
with so many differentbackgrounds and goals.
So, I'm really proud of the waythat our communities
have been able to build up together,and I'm really proud of the way
(05:49):
I've been able to involve myselfin these different aspects.
I also know that my predecessor, SharlaClemente, will uphold these values.
Actually, I've have a class with herand she's just been--
you can tell in our classthe way she's able to build community
even just within our classroom.
So, I'm excited to see how she's going togrow that throughout the district as well.
On a more personal note,I'll be transferring next year,
so I look forward to continue buildingor promoting student housing.
(06:12):
And, I think that promoting California'scommunity colleges
and just helping support them has beensomething that has been a priority for me,
and I know it will continue to be
a priority for me even as I transitionto a four year institution.
But yeah,I'm excited to see how everything grows.
That's awesome.
So, where are you--Do you know where you're transferring to?
I haven't gotten admitted anywhere yet,so we're--
we're holding on close to decisions.
(06:33):
Probably find out around next month, but...
Well, we'll have to follow up.
So, I did, I did meet the future student
trustee as well at a recent luncheonthrough Charter 100.
I knowshe's very appreciative of you
and really setting the foundationfor her to also be successful.
So, I appreciate that.
(06:54):
And, so, I think with that, it
sounds like we might be coming to the endhere with regard to our our brief,
but powerful discussion.
I know you've been such a great advocateonce again for our students
and for our district,and you've been of great service
and I really am looking forwardto seeing what you do next.
(07:14):
And I know that
we're going to hear about youwhen you when you transfer at your next
four year institution.
So, Katelyn, thank you so much for joiningus today and sharing your perspective.
It's been an enlightening conversation,highlighting the power of the student
voice and the spirit driving our communitycollege towards excellence.
So, thank you. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Yes.
(07:35):
And then, to our listeners,thank you for tuning in to our SOCCCD Voices,
and stay tuned for more engagingconversations and stories
shaping the landscape of the South OrangeCounty Community College District.
Until next time,keep learning and keep growing.
Thank you.
Welcome listeners to the first episodeof SOC
CCD Voices, where we delvedeep into the heart of education,
exploring stories, insightsand perspectives that shape our learning
landscape here in the South Orange CountyCommunity College District.
I'm your host, Julianna
Asperin.
Barnes, and we have a special episodein store for you.
(00:27):
We are honored to be joined by studenttrustee Katelyn Hidde,
who has been serving as a student voice
on the board of trusteessince April of 2023.
Through the role of student
trustee, Katelyn has a unique opportunityto champion issues at a policy level
to serve some of the greatest needsof her student peers on both campuses
of SaddlebackCollege and Irvine Valley College.
(00:48):
So without further ado, let's delve in.
Good morning, Katelyn.
Good morning. Thanks for having me.
Yes, Nice to see you.
It's a pleasureto have you here on our inaugural show.
And so to kick things off,could you share a little bit
with our listeners, a little bitabout yourself, such as your major,
(01:08):
involvements on campus,and what inspired you
to run for the student trustee positionhere in our district?
Absolutely.
Well, it'smy second year at Saddleback College.
I'm currently majoringin hydrological science and policy.
Last year I had the honor of serving
as the Senator of Campus Sustainabilityon our senate--our board last year.
I also had the honor of attending the DCA SAC
conference where I was able to heara lot of my peers from IVC and Saddleback
(01:30):
student testimoniesabout their experiences on campus,
and it inspired me to get more involvedwith the student government
and the board of Trustees.And that's why I decided to run.
Awesome.
So, it sounds like
you were very engaged and very involvedand so obviously that piqued your interest.
So, it's evident that you bring a unique position--
(01:52):
unique perspective to the table.
Fostering student engagement
and empowerment is pivotalin any educational institution.
And so, as the liaison betweenthe student body and the administration,
what initiatives or changes
have you advocated for during your tenureas student trustee?
So, basic needs has been a huge topicof concern across our campuses for years.
(02:14):
So, it's been something that I really held close to me throughout my term.
I've been able to work closely with EOPSand the CARE Corner at both schools;
that's been really influential
in helping to promote basic needs programsall throughout our campuses.
I've had the honor of working with themmore directly on projects
such as our canned food drives,but also in just making sure
that the existing programs are availableand accessible to our students.
(02:35):
And I know that this isn'tjust a priority for me.
I know across our board,our fellow trustees have also expressed
a strong, strong interestin promoting basic needs
as well as studenthousing on our campuses.
It's been a pleasure to talkto a lot of our other student
leaders, veterans,and members of the Promise Program
just to see how student housingwould affect them
and how they would like to seeit implemented on our campuses.
So, it's been really helpfulto kind of be able to talk
(02:56):
with our students about that and howthese changes would affect them directly.
That's beautiful.
I really appreciate youilluminating the food
and housing insecuritiesamong our students.
And I know just firsthand that you'vereally been a champion and advocate
for our students who are experiencing food and housing insecurity.
So, really appreciate hearing that.
(03:16):
And clearly, you're superdedicated to the student experience.
And, I have always believed, as well, that athriving educational institution involves
addressing diverse needs of studentsor social cultural needs and reality.
So, really appreciate hearing that.
So, what
advice do you have forfellow student students
(03:39):
aiming to make the most of their communitycollege experience?
I love this question.
I would definitely say to get involvedas much as possible.
Obviously, staying engaged in classroomsand keeping up with your class
work is super important,but I definitely recommend
any student at any collegeto get involved as much as possible.
I think that's a little differentfor any student.
I mean, I know for me,it was through student government
(04:00):
and that's been really a waythat I've been able to connect with
our campuses and have more social aspectswith our different students.
But, I know that a lot of other peoplewill join clubs, sports,
anything like that, I think is superhelpful to being a well-rounded student.
And, I think that also getting involved,for many students,
may mean just reaching outto counselors, the EOPS program,
and just taking advantageof all the opportunities
(04:21):
and support programsthat we have on campus.
So, I would encourage any studentto get involved in those ways as well.
That's awesome.
Well, so, obviously your
your pathway into involvementwas through student government, but
I really appreciate you talking aboutthe other support services that we have.
And then, obviously, we have a bunchof athletic events and performing arts.
It's very robustand comprehensive at both of our colleges.
(04:43):
So, I appreciate you talking about that.
I can't believe it.
I feellike you just stepped into this role,
but your term on the board of trusteeswill soon come to an end.
So, is there any one thing that you'reparticularly proud
of with regard to your accomplishmentsthis year?
(05:05):
And, looking ahead, what are some ofyour plans for the future?
I think I've been most proud ofjust the way I've been able
to help our students grow as leadersand advocate for their needs on campus.
It's always an honor
to watch my peers behind the microphone,speaking at the trustees meetings,
talking about their experiences on campusor student houseless-ness,
maybe their insecuritiesas far as basic needs.
And, I'm also just proud of the amountof students and faculties
(05:27):
that I've been able to work alongside.
I think one of the most special thingsabout our California Community
Colleges is just the diverse communitythat we've grown here, whether it's age,
experience,level, career goals, educational goals,
I think it's been really rewarding
to be ableto speak with so many different people
with so many differentbackgrounds and goals.
So, I'm really proud of the waythat our communities
have been able to build up together,and I'm really proud of the way
(05:49):
I've been able to involve myselfin these different aspects.
I also know that my predecessor, SharlaClemente, will uphold these values.
Actually, I've have a class with herand she's just been--
you can tell in our classthe way she's able to build community
even just within our classroom.
So, I'm excited to see how she's going togrow that throughout the district as well.
On a more personal note,I'll be transferring next year,
so I look forward to continue buildingor promoting student housing.
(06:12):
And, I think that promoting California'scommunity colleges
and just helping support them has beensomething that has been a priority for me,
and I know it will continue to be
a priority for me even as I transitionto a four year institution.
But yeah,I'm excited to see how everything grows.
That's awesome.
So, where are you--Do you know where you're transferring to?
I haven't gotten admitted anywhere yet,so we're--
we're holding on close to decisions.
(06:33):
Probably find out around next month, but...
Well, we'll have to follow up.
So, I did, I did meet the future student
trustee as well at a recent luncheonthrough Charter 100.
I knowshe's very appreciative of you
and really setting the foundationfor her to also be successful.
So, I appreciate that.
(06:54):
And, so, I think with that, it
sounds like we might be coming to the endhere with regard to our our brief,
but powerful discussion.
I know you've been such a great advocateonce again for our students
and for our district,and you've been of great service
and I really am looking forwardto seeing what you do next.
(07:14):
And I know that
we're going to hear about youwhen you when you transfer at your next
four year institution.
So, Katelyn, thank you so much for joiningus today and sharing your perspective.
It's been an enlightening conversation,highlighting the power of the student
voice and the spirit driving our communitycollege towards excellence.
So, thank you. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Yes.
(07:35):
And then, to our listeners,thank you for tuning in to our SOCCCD Voices,
and stay tuned for more engagingconversations and stories
shaping the landscape of the South OrangeCounty Community College District.
Until next time,keep learning and keep growing.
Thank you.
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