From alumni networking events to conferences to lo-fi study nights to beach cleanups, there are few clubs on campus with the same vibrancy and community spirit as Alpha Gamma Sigma, Gamma Iota. Alpha Gamma Sigma is a statewide community college academic honors society, with 97 chapters across California. West Valley’s chapter is one the largest clubs on campus, with over 60 members. Alpha Gamma Sigma (colloquially known as AGS) emphasizes not only academic excellence, but also community engagement and forming lasting connections with fellow peers.
Thus, AGS hosts a variety of events throughout the year to help its members establish meaningful connections within the West Valley community and beyond. One of the most notable of these events is the annual AGS Staff Appreciation Banquet. This event is a long standing tradition of the club, and takes place at the end of both the fall and spring semesters. The event is meant to commemorate the hard work of AGS members and the campus community at large. AGS members are asked to invite faculty or staff they would like to celebrate. This year’s staff appreciation banquet will be taking place on May 7th, with the exact time and venue still to be determined.
After COVID-19 and the transition to online learning, the tradition unfortunately died down. However, the club’s current leadership team, including myself, is eager to revive it. I spoke to Troy Vahabi, who is the vice president of the club and oversees the event. “It's going to be an exquisite event that we want to pull out all the stops for. We plan to have a photo booth, dance party, great food, possibly live music, a waiter service, and will conclude with a trip down memory lane. This will be one for the history books,” says Mr. Vahabi.
As club president, I can speak to the fact that we are encouraging members to invite not just faculty, but also classified and administrative staff. While students often have the most contact with faculty members, all staff members are also an integral part of the daily and large-scale operations of West Valley College, playing an essential in allowing our students to succeed.
West Valley is a thriving community, with staff and faculty being critical actors. AGS’s Staff Appreciation Dinner promises to be an evening full of mirth and enjoyment, and one that celebrates all of the people that make West Valley the welcoming and thriving campus it is today.