On Oct 5, Senator Anthony J. Portantino was recognized as the 2017 Policymaker of the Year by the Association of Independent California Colleges and Universities (AICCU). AICCU honored Senator Portantino at their annual meeting for his outstanding commitment to higher education and continuous support of students attending California’s private, nonprofit colleges and universities.

AICCU’s Policymaker of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual or organization who has exhibited strong leadership benefitting higher education. Recipients embrace and support the contributions of California’s private, nonprofit institutes of higher learning and their students by acknowledging these schools as vital providers of higher education that work to provide a path to college for many students facing financial and other challenges.

“Helping young people pursue their dreams to garner college degrees is more important than ever,” Portantino said. “I am pleased to be in a position where I can work to increase affordability and access to post-secondary opportunities for our most needy students. The colleges and universities that belong to AICCU work toward that effort every year and I am very honored that it would recognize our common efforts through this award.”

Senator Portantino is the Chair of the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Education. While serving in the State Assembly he chaired the Committee on Higher Education. Education is Senator Portantino’s number one priority and he continues to work hard to make sure that our students come first.