AWC-SB Women of Achievement Awards 2024

This year AWC-SB honorees are four educators: Katya Armistead, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Student Life at UCSB; Yolanda Medina-Garcia, retired Director of Starr King Parent-Child Workshop; Susan Salcido, Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools; and Wendy Sims-Moten, Executive Director of First 5 Santa Barbara County.

These four women uniquely embody the 2024 Women of Achievement theme:

Lessons in Leadership: Connecting & Communicating as Education Evolves.

As individuals and collectively, these four powerful women demonstrate that change comes from enduring dedication, dynamic engagement, and nonstop communication, capturing the essence of leadership at the center of the Women of Achievement recognition.

The annual Women of Achievement Awards are one way AWC-SB strives to empower women. By acknowledging exemplary women leaders in communications, AWC-SB provides inspiring role models for women within or pursuing careers in journalism, public speaking, writing, public relations, filmmaking, photography, and related disciplines. Every contribution to this event helps AWC-SB sustain and provide meaningful professional development opportunities throughout the year.

Registration starts today: Members $90 before March 29, $100 after March 29; Non-Members $100 before March 29, $115 after March 2

Katya Armistead

Assistant Vice Chancellor and
Dean of Student Life at UCSB

Yoland Medina-Garcia

Retired Director of Starr King Parent-Child Workshop

Susan Salcido

Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools

Wendy Sims-Moten

Executive Director of First 5
Santa Barbara County

Sponsorship Opportunities and Sponsorship Packet Available Below

 

 

“Personal and organizational resiliency lies within our ability to connect and communicate in an open way that reveals our whole selves — be it about race, gender or other challenging topics,
County Executive Officer Mona Miyasato, 14th annual Women of Achievement luncheon

Women of Achievement Past Recipients

~ 2023 ~

“Climate Champions: Bold Communication for a Sustainable Future”
Hillary Hauser, Executive Director of Heal the Ocean and author
Dr. Leah Stokes, Assoc. Professor of Environmental Politics UCSB

~ 2022~

“Navigating Uncharted Waters”
Santa Barbara Public Health, Van Do-Reynoso
Santa Barbara County Public Health, Jackie Ruiz

Santa Barbara Public Health, Van Do-Reynoso
Santa Barbara County Executive Office, Mona Miyasato

Santa Barbara County Executive Office, Terri Nisich
Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness, Suzanne Grimmessey

Former Santa Barbara Communications Manager, Gina DePinto

~ 2020/21 ~

“Vision, Voice, and Advocacy for a New Generation”
Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara Barbara Ben-Horin
Santa Barbara City College & Santa Barbara Women’s Political Committee Luz Reyes-Martin

~ 2019 ~

“Making a Difference With Stories that Matter”
KEYT Journalist and Anchor Beth Farnsworth
Strategic Samurai Kymberlee Weil

~ 2018 ~

“Courageous Communicators”
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Dr. Carrie Hutchinson, Chair of the Communication Department SBCC

~ 2017 ~

“Inspirational Women Leaders: Communication, Empowerment, Outcomes”
Helene Schneider, Former Mayor, Santa Barbara
Patty DeDominic, Founder, International Women’s Festival

~ 2016 ~

“Women Stand Up, Speak Out”
Lois Capps, Former Congresswoman
Dr. Lois Phillips, Communications Consultant and Founder AWC-SB

~ 2015 ~

“Pioneers for Change: Communication, Community, Choice”
Sigrid Wright, Director, Earth Day Festival
Marilyn Tam, Author, The Happiness Choice

~ 2014 ~

“Giving Voice: Leadership, Education, Community”
Nancy Leffert, President. Antioch University
Marianne Partridge, Editor in Chief, Santa Barbara Independent

~ 2013 ~

“Money Matters: Journalism, Justice, and Empowerment”
Kathleen Sharp, Author, Blood Medicine
Marsha Bailey, Founder and CEO, Women’s Economic Ventures

~ 2012 ~

“From Breaking News to Awakening the Muse” Perie Longo, SB Poet Laureate Emerita
Paula Lopez, Television journalist

~ 2011 ~

“From Ink to Internet: Honoring Visionaries in Communication”
Lynda Weinman, Founder, Lynda.com
Starshine Roshell, Syndicated columnist

~ 2010 ~

“Writing Truth, Empowering Women”
Sara Miller McCune, Publisher, Sage Communications
Marcia Meier, Author and Director, SB Writers Conference

~ 2009 ~

“Championing Leaders, Building Relationships, Recognizing Excellence”
Catherine Remak, Radio host
Ann Louise Bardach, Journalist

~ 2008 ~

Producer Deborah Hutchinson
and reporters at the Santa Barbara News Press including Jane Hulse, Melinda Burns,
Dawn Hobbs, Melissa Evans, and Anna Davison

 

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