Contact: Juliet V. Casey, jcasey@losmedaonos.edu, (925) 473-7322
From left, Irene Sukhu, LMC Classified Senate President, awardee Andrew Murphy, EOPS program coordinator, and LMC President Pamela Ralston
Pittsburg, Calif. – Los Medanos College (LMC) is proud to announce Andrew Murphy as the recipient of the 2nd Annual LMC President’s Classified Professional Exemplary Leadership & Service Award.
Murphy serves in the college’s Extended Opportunity Programs and Services (EOPS), and is recognized for his unwavering commitment to student success, equity, and holistic support. Murphy is an LMC alumnus and former student-athlete.
“Andrew’s journey, from student to student worker to full-time professional reflects his deep, lived connection to the college and its mission,” LMC President Pamela Ralston said. “He is a dedicated mentor and leader across multiple initiatives, including the Student-Athlete Academy, RISE, and the Black Student Success Initiative, and has supported programs such as Umoja and Brothers of Excellence.”
Ralston praised Murphy for his work in supporting historically marginalized students, providing guidance grounded in care and accountability. She said Murphy is known for going above and beyond his formal responsibilities to remove barriers to student success. Whether mentoring students one-on-one, strengthening study hall structures, chaperoning conferences, or thoughtfully advocating for equity-centered decisions in collaborative spaces, his leadership is relational, principled, and student-focused, she said.
Murphy said the recognition was especially meaningful to him now that he is in a role that would have seemed unlikely when he first came to LMC as a student, when he felt he “wasn’t college material.” But he soon met counselors and others who helped him recognize his own potential. He said he is now proud to be the person who can give today’s students the encouragement they need to seize opportunities and reach for their dreams.
About Los Medanos College (LMC): LMC is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District serving the East Contra Costa County community. Established in 1974, LMC has earned federal designations as a Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving institution. It offers award-winning transfer and career-technical programs, support services, and diverse academic opportunities in an inclusive learning environment. With exceptional educators, innovative curriculum, growing degree and certificate offerings, and state-of-the-art facilities, the college prepares students to succeed in their educational pursuits, in the workforce, and beyond. LMC’s Pittsburg Campus is located on 120 acres bordering Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.