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Hello!
Happy September and welcome to fall!
We are so proud to introduce the 2026 Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Award honorees. These five Distinguished Alumni are pillars of our ECC community and embody the meaning of distinguished. Our 2026 Gratitude Award recipients are faithful supporters of El Camino College and have embraced our students and faculty, and the mission of El Camino, wholeheartedly. You will learn more about each of them in the coming months. Please save the date and join us for the 2026 Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Awards on Friday, March 6 at 6 pm at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Torrance. It’s going to be a very special evening!
Happy Warrior Wednesday!
With gratitude,
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Andrea Sala
Executive Director
| | Alumni Spotlight: Announcing Our 2026 El Camino College Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Award Honorees | | |
The El Camino College Foundation is pleased to recognize the accomplishments of our alumni, many whom are highly respected in the community and have achieved great success in their careers and lives.
The Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Awards Dinner honors El Camino College graduates who have made exceptional contributions in their professions, communities, and in support of education. This inspiring event brings together alumni, students, faculty, and community leaders to celebrate achievement, share stories of impact, and highlight the lasting value of an El Camino College education. By showcasing the accomplishments of our honorees, we not only recognize their success but also inspire current students to pursue their dreams.
| | Campus Spotlight: El Camino College Welcomed Local Education Leaders at the 2025 President's Breakfast | | |
Earlier this month, El Camino College Superintendent/President Dr. Brenda Thames welcomed local high school and district leaders to campus for her annual President’s Breakfast, kicking off the new school year with updates and student success stories that highlight the value of an El Camino education. Academic Deans shared exciting division highlights, including the College’s first Bachelor of Science graduating class in Respiratory Care, the launch of the Arts, Media & Entertainment Division, a new Actuarial Science degree, the debut of the El Camino Commons, and key developments with the South Bay Promise. Student speaker Avery Thomas also shared her inspiring Early College journey, noting that she will graduate in June 2026 with both a diploma from North High School and an associate degree from El Camino College.
Through the annual President’s Breakfast, El Camino College continues to strengthen partnerships with local educators and create pathways for student success. View the full President's Breakfast photo album HERE.
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ECC Fire Chief Jeff Baumunk (far L) with reps from
Mira Costa, Redondo Union, Palos Verdes, and Leuzinger
high schools.
| | Student speaker Avery Thomas of North High spoke about her positive Early College experience. | | Save the Date: El Camino College's 7th Annual State of the College | | |
El Camino College's State of the College address will take place on Friday, November 14 at 11:30 am. Dr. Brenda Thames, ECC's President and CEO, will share the college's vision to prepare the community for economic vitality.
The State of the College is an opportunity for El Camino to connect with the community and share how the college is integral to meeting the South Bay’s rapidly evolving workforce needs.
Join us at this complimentary event. Please RSVP by Friday, November 7th.
| | Community Spotlight: 2025 Torrance State of the City Address | | |
The 2025 Torrance State of the City Address was delivered by Mayor George Chen on September 12th at the DoubleTree by Hilton, Torrance. The address, hosted by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, focused on the theme "Nurturing Growth, Focused on the Future". Key highlights included the city's financial turnaround to over $131 million in reserves, advancements in public safety through technology, new businesses and transit upgrades, partnerships in education with El Camino College and the Torrance Unified School District, and preparations for global events such as the World Cup, Super Bowl, and LA28 Olympics. The event also recognized Jack Walser as the 2025 Citizen of the Year.
| | Community Spotlight: El Segundo's First Creative Economy Event was Playfully Educational | | |
The 2025 El Segundo Creative Economy Breakfast was held at Mattel's Global Headquarters on September 19th. The event, hosted by the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce, featured an entertaining guest panel that emphasized the impact of El Segundo's creative economy on the region, particularly in the toy and entertainment industries. El Camino College attended the event, with special invitations extended to ECC art students by the El Segundo Chamber. With more than 200 toy companies represented in El Segundo's new Toy Building, El Segundo is the new global toy hub. Attendees learned about the state's continued global leadership, growth in high paying creative roles, and the impact of AI in the creative landscape. Mattel's Chief Design Officer Chris Down stressed the importance of "play" no matter one's age. After the event, El Camino's Interim Dean Betty Sedor stated, "I feel so excited and positive about our Creative Ecosystem in the South Bay. It was incredibly inspiring and validating to me for the work I’ve done to change our Division’s name to Arts, Media, and Entertainment. The creative future is bright for our students."
Pictured below: Heidi Wang (ECC Foundation), Athena Parducho (ECC Art Student), Michael Miller (ECC Gallery Director), Cindy Cabrera (ECC Art Student), and Betty Sedor (ECC Interim Dean AME).
| | Community Spotlight: Building a Stronger Educational Partnership with the El Segundo Rotary Club | | |
On September 18th, former Modesto Rotarian and El Camino College Superintendent/President Dr. Brenda Thames, visited the El Segundo Rotary Club to share exciting updates about the College and highlight inspiring student success stories. Heidi Wang, Development Officer at the El Camino College Foundation, also recognized the Rotary’s longstanding commitment through scholarship funding, community partnerships, and support of the Warrior Pantry.
Following an engaging Q&A session, the Rotary announced the creation of three new vocational scholarships, bringing their annual total to five. In addition, the club held a food drive for the Warrior Pantry, collecting $500 worth of non-perishable food and toiletry items to directly benefit ECC students. El Camino College and the El Segundo Rotary look forward to continuing its strong partnership by expanding opportunities for students. We are deeply grateful to the El Segundo Rotary for their generosity and dedication to student success.
| | ESUSD School Board President Frank Glynn, Rotary President Gilda Dyckman, ESUSD School Board Meredith Beachly, ECCF Heidi Wang, ECC President Brenda Thames, and ECC PIO Kerri Webb. | |  | |
Thank you El Segundo Rotary Club for your
donation to El Camino's Warrior Pantry
valued at $500.
| | | Community Partners Spotlight: Edison International | | |
For thirteen straight years, Edison International has supported the El Camino College Foundation with $25,000 in STEM Scholarships through their Edison Scholars program.
Edison Scholars scholarships provide more than just financial assistance—they open doors to opportunity, innovation, and lifelong success. By easing the burden of educational costs, El Camino students can fully engage in their studies. These scholarships allow our students to stay in school, pursue their passion for science, technology, engineering, and math, and gain the tools they need to reach their educational and long-term career goals. The ripple effect of this support is immeasurable, extending far beyond the classroom and into the future workforce and community. Thank you Edison for your continued support!
Pictured below: Arturo Hernandez, Associate Dean of Science, Engineering & Mathematics (far left), along with El Camino's 2025 Edison Scholars, with Andrea Sala, ECC Foundation Executive Director (far right).
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This fall, please consider giving to the El Camino College Foundation.
Your gift will support student success programs at El Camino College.
Don't delay, donate TODAY!
| | | 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. | | | | |
