2024 Women of Achievement Awards
Presented By
The 2024 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.โ
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 29
Special Thanks To Our Generous Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities and Sponsorship Packet Available Below
โPersonal and organizational resiliency lies within our ability to connect and communicate in an open way that reveals our whole selves โ be it about race, gender or other challenging topics,
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 ~
โCourageous Communicatorsโ
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson
Dr. Carrie Hutchinson, Chair of the Communication Department SBCC
~ 2017 ~
โInspirational Women Leaders: Communication, Empowerment, Outcomesโ
Helene Schneider, Former Mayor, Santa Barbara
Patty DeDominic, Founder, International Womenโs Festival
~ 2016 ~
โWomen Stand Up, Speak Outโ
Lois Capps, Former Congresswoman
Dr. Lois Phillips, Communications Consultant and Founder AWC-SB
~ 2015 ~
โPioneers for Change: Communication, Community, Choiceโ
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, Womenโs Economic Ventures
~ 2012 ~
“From Breaking News to Awakening the Muse” Perie Longo, SB Poet Laureate Emerita
Paula Lopez, Television journalist
~ 2011 ~
โFrom Ink to Internet: Honoring Visionaries in Communicationโ
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
In the News
- โ6 Honored with Women of Achievement Awardโ – Santa Barbara News-Press
- โAWC-SB 14th Annual Women Achievement Awards Luncheonโ – Edhat
- โWomen of Achievement Awards to honor six resilient communicatorsโ – Coastal View News
- 12th Annual Women of Achievement Awards in the Montecito Journal (page 28)
- “Carpinteria represents at the 12th Annual Women of Achievement Awards luncheon”
- Santa Barbara Applauds Womenโs History Month Celebrate with the Santa Barbara Chapter of the Association for Women in Communications