Past and present Fanshawe Student Union leaders attended the College Student Alliance conference in early May, snagging a CSA Landmark Award while they were at it.

The CSA is an organization that brings together 17 colleges and college- universities province-wide. It provides advocacy for students on a provincial level and gives a joint voice for college students in Ontario, explained Kendra Sauder, the FSU's VP Finance.

The week-long conference in May was a changeover conference, in which new student leaders met with returning ones for leadership training and goal-setting for the year ahead.

The FSU was lauded for their efforts within the CSA, such as playing an important role in rewriting the organization's fee policy, involvement in committees, hosting the October CSA conference and their membership on the CSA board.

"We had a strong year with the CSA," Joe Scalia, former FSU President, said proudly. "(The award) means that we had a good year, not just at Fanshawe, but in regards to provincial advocacy, and its nice that CSA recognized that. It's a good way to end the year."

"This will motivate us to be even more involved," added current FSU President Veronica Barahona.

Vaughn Scriver, the student representative on Fanshawe's Board of Governors, was awarded with the CSA scholarship at the conference. Scriver also won the FSU Leadership Award in March.

"We will continue to be active at CSA and make students' voices heard there," said Scalia.

Fanshawe Student Union leaders have been active members of the CSA for years. Scalia was the Southwest director from 2009 to 2010, Barahona took over the position for 2010 to 2011 and this year VP External and Academic Affairs Andrew Payne will take over the position.

For more information about the CSA, visit collegestudentalliance.ca.