Dear Andrea,

It has been an amazing year so far at the El Camino College Foundation. We are thrilled to announce that for the first time, we will award just over $1 MILLION in scholarships for fall 2025. Thanks to your generosity, encouragement, and belief in our mission, the Foundation has been able to make such a difference for our students. Whether through your time, donations, and/or advocacy, you’ve helped us reach new milestones and bring opportunities to our students. Each achievement this year—no matter how big or small—was made possible by a community that truly cares. We look forward to continuing this important work together in the coming year. From all of us at the El Camino College Foundation, thank you for being an essential part of our journey.

Happy Warrior Wednesday!

Andrea Sala

Executive Director

For the first time in the history of the Scholarship program, the ECC Foundation awarded over $1 million in scholarships to nearly 650 students. This milestone was celebrated on May 15th at the annual Scholarship Awards Dinner where scholarship recipients were recognized, and they had the opportunity to meet and thank their donors in person.

Although established in 1983, the ECC Foundation only began awarding scholarships 20 years ago. When Andrea Sala joined the Foundation in 2015 as the new Executive Director, nearly $500K in scholarships were awarded. Ten years later, that number has more than doubled much to the success of the Foundation team's community involvement and donor cultivation efforts. “Awarding over $1 million in scholarships reflects our commitment to student success. This milestone represents an investment in the dreams and futures of our students. We are proud to help lessen the financial burden for them through the generosity of our community and donors.", stated Sala.

Congratulations to all recipients, and as always, a big thank you to our very generous and gracious scholarship donors who transform students' lives.

Photo: Pat Kinnan (Lower R) and her friend Ron Way (Lower L) with the recipients of the Jerry Kinnan Memorial Scholarship, Eduardo Dossantos and Andy Galarza.

The Sharer Scholarships are awarded to exceptional students with a demonstrated record of academic accomplishment, who are planning to transfer to a UC or CSU four-year university, have a career plan focused on the world of commerce, and have leadership potential. The scholarships also include additional program support for students as they transfer.

With special thanks to The Carol H. and Kevin W. Sharer Foundation, six $16,000 scholarships were awarded to El Camino students this year. Congratulations to Ava Loann Schaeffer, Belan Carter, Usman Tahir, John Bleavins, Ingrid Barrera, and Aoi Takahara.

“Life is not a rehearsal, but a performance.” These are the profound words of Dr. Joanna Medawar Nachef, Director of Choral and Orchestral Activities at El Camino College, who is set to retire and take her final bow after 30 years at the end of the spring 2025 semester.

Nachef began working at ECC part time in 1989, and full time in 1996. But her journey started long before that as a 16-year-old immigrant from Lebanon. Born in Beirut, she moved to Los Angeles in 1976 and became a student at El Camino College prior to earning her Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Southern California. Nachef is recognized as the first woman conductor from the Middle East and is a speaker and “citizen diplomat” for the U.S. State Department.

In May 2024, Dr. Nachef conducted her seventh guest appearance at Carnegie Hall, along with the El Camino College Symphony, ECC Choirs, Joanna Medawar Nachef Singers (JMNS) and Sons of Thunder Choir. Nachef's final ECC performance titled "A Legacy of Excellence - 30th Anniversary Celebration" on May 31st will combine musical highlights from her 30 years at El Camino College. In retirement, Nachef will focus more on her JMNS chorale group, while enjoying some rest and relaxation as she continues living her American dream. Congratulations Dr. Nachef -- the Foundation is truly going to miss you and your boisterous personality!

Earlier this month, several retired faculty and staff members visited campus for a tour to see the newest buildings and experience first-hand how the campus has changed since their departure.

The ECC Foundation enjoys keeping in touch with former colleagues of the college. Each year, the Foundation holds an annual Retiree Luncheon to serve as a reunion for former employees. We look forward to welcoming our newest class of retirees in the fall of 2025!

El Camino College is currently accepting applications to fill one open position on its Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee.

As part of the campus modernization effort made possible by voter-approved Measure E bond funds, the El Camino Community College District Board of Trustees established a seven-member Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee. This committee is charged with actively reviewing bond revenue expenditures and informing the public about those expenditures. Applicants must live within the El Camino Community College District (Inglewood, Lennox, Hawthorne, El Segundo, Lawndale, Torrance, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach).

This volunteer position requires regular attendance at the four quarterly Committee meetings and provide constituent feedback. Employees, students, and vendors of El Camino College cannot serve on the Committee. The Committee’s next meeting is Wednesday, July 16 at 3:30pm in the Kenneth Brown Boardroom in the Administration Building.  

Individuals interested in applying should email a one-page letter of interest and a one-page resume outlining qualifications by May 30, 2025 to:

Brenda Thames, Ph.D.

Superintendent/President

rsandro@elcamino.edu

We are proud of our strong community partners and this includes our partnership with SoCalGas. SoCalGas has supported the El Camino College Foundation for over 7 years, supporting our Community Partners program, Warrior Pantry, Student Emergency Fund, career fairs, and sponsorship of Foundation events.

This year, SoCalGas established a new technology scholarship to support five El Camino College students on their path towards degree and career attainment. Through their investment in education and the next generation, SoCalGas is committed to creating a thriving community for years to come. Their robust scholarship program encourages students to pursue higher education while developing future scientists, mathematicians, technology experts, and engineers that can help address the complex issues our communities face each and every day.

Pictured below is Brittany Viramontes, Community Relations Manager at SoCalGas, who presented scholarships to Gilliane Carillo, Christopher Vital, Bayne Jackson, and Marvin Gutierrez at the 2025 Scholarship Awards Dinner. Not pictured Francisco Cardenas.

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.