Senate Majority Leader Mike Sanders (R-Kingfisher) was recognized as Oklahoma Christian University’s distinguished alumni in history and political science Friday.

University President John deSteiguer presented the award at a ceremony attended by Sanders’ family, wife Nellie and sons Davis and Walker.

A 1997 OC graduate with a bachelor of science in history and pre-law, Sanders went straight from college to the George W. Bush administration, serving as director of interns and then deputy chief of staff for rural development and senior advisor to the chief of natural resources.

He was awarded the Distinguished Honor Service Award by Bush for his dedicated service to the White House on Sept. 11, 2001.

After returning to Oklahoma, he was elected to the Legislature in 2008, and then re-elected to fi ve successive terms, including the 2012 election when he set a state record by gaining 95 percent of the vote.

In his years in the Legislature, Sanders has served as the vice chair of the Human Services Committee.

For his distinguished service on behalf of children and families in Oklahoma, he was honored with the 2013 Outstanding Elected Official Award by the State Interagency Child Abuse Prevention Task Force.

He has also served in House leadership under various speakerships and after Sanders was re-elected in 2012, he was elected by his peers of the House Republican Caucus to remain in leadership as one of the assistant majority whips, a position he has held since his election in 2008.

He served as the Chairman for the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation for over four years, overseeing the budget for Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

Sanders currently serves in a senior leadership role as House Majority Leader and continues to serve on the Agriculture & Wildlife, Utilities, Energy & Aerospace and Appropriations & Budget Committees.

He graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1993 and was named to the KHS Hall of Fame in 2013.

The OC alumni award commends Sanders for “outstanding vision, dedication and commitment to excellence..