Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo congratulates two of our LACOE family members, Dr. Vivian Ekchian, Superintendent of the Glendale Unified School District, and LACOE’s Grants Development Officer Dr. Monica Sanchez, former Mayor and current Pico Rivera City Councilmember along with all of the superlative women leaders honored on March 13 at the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Commission for Women’s 38th Annual Women of the Year Awards and Commemorative Celebration. 

The Awards included the President’s Award, honorees in each of the five Supervisory districts and Community-at-Large honorees. Dr. Ekchian was recognized as a Community-At-Large honoree in Education, and Dr. Sanchez was honored as a District Awardee. 

Congratulations to all the outstanding women leaders honored at the event and especially to Dr. Vivan Ekchian and Dr. Monica Sanchez, because they are champions for education and our students through their work with LACOE and fearless leaders among our communities which make them truly deserving of these prestigious honors,” said Los Angeles County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Debra Duardo.    

 The Commission recognizes women who bring about social and economic change, promote women’s equality, serve as outstanding role models for women, work on behalf of women’s issues and demonstrate outstanding performance within their professions to further advocate women’s rights. Event proceeds provide funding for outreach throughout Los Angeles County, fulfilling the Commission’s goals of “Educating, Motivating and Inspiring Women,” as well as for critical education scholarships.  

The honorees included:  

 President's Award 

• Karen Bass, 43rd Mayor of Los Angeles and first woman elected to hold the office.  

District Awardees:  

• First District: Diana Diaz, Creator/Founder, Mexican Crafts, the Goddess Mercado, and the Queer Mercado  
• Second District: Valaria M. Lincoln, Retired, US Army Corps of Engineers', Los Angeles District Office  
• Third District: Emiliana Guereca, Founder, Women's March Foundation  
• Fourth District: Dr. Monica Sanchez, Councilmember, City of Pico Rivera  
• Fifth District: Dr. Jill Zimmerman, Dean of Students, Antelope Valley College  

Community-At-Large Awardees:  

• Arts/Media: Tema Staig, Executive Director, Women in Media  
• Business/Labor: Erika Toriz, Founder & Executive Director, Haven Services  
• Community Activism: Naomi Rainey-Person, President, Long Beach Branch NAACP  
• Education: Luz Flores, Director of Operations, Women in Non-Traditional Employment Roles  
• Education: Vivian Ekchian, Superintendent, Glendale Unified School District  
• Health: Andrea Piazza, Director of Virtual Programming, Discovery Behavioral Health  
• Law/Public Safety: Muluemebet Alemayehu, Immigration Attorney, Law Offices of Muluemebet Alemayehu