THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE RELEASE
DANVILLE – Danville Area Community College student Leonidas “Leo” Hamza has been elected to serve as the student representative to the Danville Area Community College Board of Trustees for the 2026-2027 academic year.
Danville Area Community College’s Board of Trustees includes one advisory-voting member who is a student enrolled at the College. The Student Trustee election is conducted annually in April by the student body.
Hamza has distinguished himself through academic achievement, student leadership, advocacy, and service at both the college and state levels. He is an active member and President of DACC’s Pi Omega Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa and was recently named to the 2026 All-Illinois Academic Team.
As Student Trustee candidate, Hamza advocated for the inclusion of incarcerated students enrolled through DACC’s Department of Corrections Education program in the student election process, reflecting his belief that all DACC students deserve representation and a voice in student governance.
Earlier this academic year, Hamza attended the first Phi Theta Kappa induction ceremony ever held inside an Illinois correctional institution at the Danville Correctional Center. As PTK Chapter President, he joined DACC faculty and staff in recognizing 21 incarcerated students who earned membership in the honor society through academic excellence in DACC’s correctional education program.
The historic ceremony marked a milestone not only for DACC, but for higher education access in Illinois correctional facilities. Students inducted into PTK at the Danville Correctional Center met the same rigorous academic standards required of all PTK members, including completion of at least 12 college credit hours and a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
In addition to his campus leadership roles, Hamza served this year on the Illinois Community College Board Student Advisory Committee, representing student perspectives on issues impacting community college education throughout the state. On April 16, he also participated in the ICCB Student Advocacy Day at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, where students met with legislators and state leaders to advocate for community college students and higher education initiatives.
Hamza is also a participant in DACC’s TRIO Student Support Services program, which assists first-generation, income-eligible, and disabled students in achieving academic success and completing their educational goals.
“Leo has demonstrated a strong commitment to leadership, advocacy, and student success,” said DACC administrators. “His experiences both on campus and at the state level will serve him well as the voice of DACC students on the Board of Trustees.”
Earlier this spring, Hamza was awarded the Phi Theta Kappa Oberndorf Lifeline to Completion Scholarship, recognizing his perseverance and dedication to completing his degree despite personal and financial challenges.
As Student Trustee, Hamza will serve as a liaison between the student body and the Board of Trustees, providing input on student concerns, campus initiatives, and issues affecting higher education.
Danville Area Community College is a comprehensive community college serving Illinois District 507, which consists of Vermilion County and parts of Champaign, Iroquois, Edgar, and Ford counties, since 1946. The College offers Associate degrees and certificates in both university transfer and applied career and technical programs. DACC’s historic, 76-acre main campus is located at 2000 East Main Street, Danville. The College has a higher-learning center in Hoopeston at 847 E. Orange. To apply to DACC, call 217-443-3222 or visit the Web site at www.DACC.EDU.
