In March, the California Community Colleges Board of Governors announced this year’s Hayward Award for Excellence in Education award recipients. These awards honor community college faculty members, selected by their peers, for demonstrating the highest level of commitment to their students, college, and profession. This year, the Academic Senate selected two winners: Shagun Kaur, a communications instructor at De Anza College, and Sheila Smith, a child development and family studies faculty member at Solano Community College.

2025-26 Award Winners

Shagun Kaur is a full-time communications study faculty member at De Anza College and a champion for open educational resources (OER). Kaur has led the statewide development of 30 accessible OER across STEM, humanities, and social sciences, supporting multi-district faculty teams and advancing open access throughout the California Community Colleges. Kaur also secured $1.6 million to develop 13 Zero Textbook Cost degree pathways at De Anza, generating $2.8M in annual student savings and advancing equity for first-generation, low-income, and minority students. Kaur also serves as an Academic Senate vice president and tri-chair of College Council and College Advisory, providing leadership in shared governance, instructional planning, and budget processes.

Sheila Smith is a part-time child development and family studies faculty member at Solano Community College and a results-oriented college educator with instructional and leadership experience in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Smith has served as an early childhood educator and workshop facilitator, leading diversity workshops for college students and teachers. Smith is also a co-coordinator for Teaching4Equity at Solano Community College, which has become a space to learn, share, develop, and facilitate discussions on how instructors can best serve their students. 

“I am committed to providing a radical space that is accessible and inclusive to all students: where every student knows, without a doubt, they belong.” — Sheila Smith, Hayward Award Recipient, Solano Community Colleges

The Hayward Award for Excellence in Education program was established in 1998 and named in honor of previous California Community Colleges Chancellor Gerald C. Hayward. The Hayward Awards are supported through a grant from FoundationCCC, which provides each recipient with a $1,250 cash award and a commemorative plaque in recognition of their service. We remain committed to supporting these California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office efforts by recognizing individuals across the system who are doing impactful work and uplifting the programs and partnerships that help drive positive outcomes for students.