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Dear Andrea,
You know what they say, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb," meaning the beginning of March can be stormy, while the end of the month is usually milder in preparation of spring. Boy, have we experienced that this month! The rain has been abundant and now we are enjoying the sunshine and warmth. Spring is a busy time at El Camino with the thrill of awarding scholarships, and graduation in the near future. We are excited to welcome spring and all that it has to offer.
Happy Warrior Wednesday!
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Andrea Sala
Executive Director
| | Campus Spotlight: El Camino's Annual Onizuka Space Science Day Honors the Memory of Astronaut Ellison Onizuka | | |
Last weekend, El Camino College proudly welcomed the family of astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka, who traveled from Houston, TX to attend El Camino's annual Onizuka Space Science Day. This year marks the 39th anniversary of the Space Shuttle Challenger accident that took the lives of the seven crew members, including Ellison Onizuka.
Each year, the Ellison S. Onizuka Memorial Committee, Honda, and El Camino College host a free, hands-on STEM conference for local students in grades 5-12. This year's event, funded by the El Camino College Foundation, Honda, and Chevron, took place on March 15 and was attended by 1,040 local students and community members.
Photo: Ellison Onizuka's daughters, Janelle and Darien, along with three of the eight Onizuka grandchildren, Ellie, Katelynn and Hunter, pictured with astronaut Dan Tani at the Onizuka Space Science Day Dinner.
| | Alumni Spotlight: El Camino Alumnus, John Sweeney, Named 2025 Trial Lawyer of the Year | | |
On March 8th, the CAL-ABOTA (California American Board of Trial Advocates) selected John E. Sweeney of The Sweeney Firm as the 2025 Trial Lawyer of the Year. Since 1962, this award is considered the highest honor a California trial lawyer can receive, awarded annually to a recipient exhibiting the best traits of a trial lawyer: excellence in advocacy, a distinguished career and a reputation for civility, ethics and fair play. Sweeney attended ECC from 1969 to 1971, before graduating from USC in 1973.
Sweeney is one of the most respected trial lawyers in the country. With a remarkable 40-year career, he has established himself as an advocate for justice and equality, and a champion of civil rights. Sweeney’s impact extends far beyond the courtroom—his legal work has created substantial policy changes while securing monumental recoveries. Throughout his career, Sweeney has handled more than 200 jury trials, earning him national recognition and numerous honors, including induction into the prestigious State Bar of California Trial Lawyers Hall of Fame in 2022.
As the recipient of the 2025 CAL-ABOTA Trial Lawyer of the Year Award, John Sweeney’s legacy as both an outstanding trial lawyer and an advocate for civil rights continues to inspire the next generation of legal professionals. Congratulations John Sweeney -- Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior!
Read more about Sweeney’s award and career achievements HERE.
| | Student Spotlight: El Camino's Forensics Team Dominates at State Championships | | |
The El Camino Forensics team dominated at the recent California State Championship tournament. Overall, El Camino placed 2nd place among the 19 competing California Community Colleges. In debate, ECC brought home 4 gold, 2 silver, and 6 bronze medals earning the top school in debate. In speech, ECC earned 2 gold, 2 silver, and 3 bronze medals. Danielle Kabboul advanced to elimination rounds in all 4 of her events and was named the overall top speaker and competitor. Zaynah Robb earned a gold and silver medal and was awarded the Tony Bernacchi Forensics Scholarship for demonstrating excellence in competition and service to the community. Additionally, five teammates advanced to elimination rounds in Lincoln Douglas debate, all earning gold medals: Andres Osorio, Danielle Kabboul, Abigail Sucup, Sophia Cruz, and Ashley Singh.
El Camino was also recently named top community college in the nation for the 2024-2025 season in parliamentary debate from the National Parliamentary Debate Association. Congratulations to all student competitors and coaches!
| | Upcoming Campus Events: Spring Job Fair and Planetarium Show | | |
El Camino College's 25th annual Job Fair, presented by Career Services in partnership with the South Bay Workforce Investment
Board (SBWIB), will take place on April 30th from 10 am to 2 pm in the Student Services Plaza. Due to overwhelming response, all employer booths have been reserved. Free Parking will be available in Lot C (Manhattan Beach Blvd. & Crenshaw Blvd.)
View the Job Fair flyer HERE.
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El Camino's first public planetarium show and observatory night of the semester will be this Friday, March 28th at 7:30 pm, followed by telescopes (weather permitting) at the ECC Planetarium.
Special thanks to the El Camino College Foundation for sponsoring the planetarium shows. Shows are on a first come, first served basis. Admission is free and open to the community.
| | | Foundation Spotlight: Friends and Fundraisers for Life -- Meet Andrea Sala and Laura Schenasi | | |
Article excerpted from Fundraisers & Friends by Emily McGinn, February 27, 2025, Palos Verdes Pulse.
Andrea Sala and Laura Schenasi have been friends since high school when they passed the baton to each other during the 440 relay at Palos Verdes High School. After college, they returned to the South Bay and reconnected. Now, three decades later, the two are still close friends, both finding ways to serve their community. Sala and Schenasi have something else in common — they both work in fundraising. For the past decade, Sala has been fundraising for El Camino College as the Executive Director of the El Camino College Foundation, and Schenasi has been fundraising for Torrance Memorial for nearly 25 years as the Executive Vice President of the Torrance Memorial Foundation.
Both Sala and Schenasi have found success in their respective roles. Sala has boosted El Camino’s annual fundraising from $1 million to $7 million. When Schenasi started at Torrance Memorial, they were raising $500,000 a year. Now, they raise about $20-25 million annually. Schenasi says the key to their success is simple: relationships. Both Sala and Schenasi are always interacting with people in the community and cultivating those relationships. For both Sala and Schenasi, their jobs are about the people they help with the money they raise. “I always tell people that Laura is saving lives, but sometimes I feel like I'm saving lives too, because a lot of our students need that help,” stated Sala. She further summed up her love of her job by saying, "I love what I do. I love the people I work with. I love our donors and the friendships that I've made over the years.”
Laura Schenasi was inducted into El Camino College's Distinguished Alumni in 2016. Read the full Palos Verdes Pulse article HERE.
| | Community Partners Spotlight: SKECHERS Celebrates Successful Pier to Pier Friendship Walk with Partner Appreciation Event | | |
El Camino College was a proud sponsor of the 2024 SKECHERS Pier to Pier Friendship Walk which took place on October 20th and raised a record $3.4 million for educational programs in the South Bay.
On February 27th, SKECHERS held it's Partner Appreciation Event, celebrating the phenomenal success of their 16th annual walk. Nearly 150 sponsors and education foundation representatives gathered at Topgolf El Segundo for an evening of friendship and impact. Attendees also received an update on the new Friendship Campus which is expected to open in early 2026. This inclusive Campus will provide children and young adults with physical and intellectual diversities, the tools to transition into the workforce and pursue their passions. A full list of vocational programs is available at: friendshipfoundation.com/campus.
Photo: Foundation Development Officer Heidi Wang, with El Segundo Education Foundation and El Segundo School Board representatives.
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Your generosity can transform a student's life.
Please consider making a gift to the El Camino College Foundation and designating it to a cause that is most meaningful to you.
Thank you so much!
| | | The El Camino College Foundation (EIN 95-3874302) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, dedicated to fund and support student success programs at El Camino College. | | | | |
