Laughter, applause and stories of empowerment fill the room.

In celebration of Women’s History Month, El Camino College hosted its annual Distinguished Women’s Awards Reception on Thursday, March 27.

The event recognized several accomplished women for their contributions and impact on women’s empowerment, education and success.

The honorees included Mildred E. Black, Autumn Blakley, Patricia Fairchild, Ivory Freeman, Isabel Gonzalez, Maribel Hernandez and Amina Humphrey.

“This wonderful tradition is part of El Camino’s Women’s History Month activities. It gives us the opportunity today to celebrate seven remarkable, inspiring, and distinguished women,” ECC President Brenda Thames said.

Recipients were selected for their impact on women’s and girls’ initiatives in education, mentorship and leadership, specifically at the college and community level.

“What’s particularly notable about this group is that they all represent the many different components of education, from a classroom setting to programs and activities that support students throughout their academic journeys,” Thames said.

Each recipient’s work contributed uniquely to this year’s National Women’s History Month theme, “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating and Inspiring Generations.”

Black, an ECC alumna and first-generation college student, is a mentor with Much More Bounce Inc., a nonprofit that works with young women to improve their lives through education, mentoring and career support.

Tinisee Miatta, mentee of Black at Much More Bounce Inc., said Black had a significant influence on her.

“If you ever have a chance to be encouraged by Ms. Black, just know her choice words of encouragement over your life will remain in your spirit eternally, as her words are spoken with such care and authority,” Miatta said.

Blakley is an educator, mentor, advocate and full-time, tenure-track counselor for the Black Student Success Center.

“When I look at the faces of my students, especially the Black women I have the privilege to guide, I see a bold and boundless future. I see it in them, reflecting their ancestors’ deferred dreams and their soaring aspirations,” Blakley said.

With a master’s degree in counseling from Loyola Marymount University and a doctorate in educational leadership from California State University, Long Beach, her research centers on strengthening Black female identity.

Blakley has led women-focused workshops and events, envisioning young Black and brown women viewing education not just as a career path, but as a noble pursuit that expands the mind.

“I want them to remember that their greatest accomplishment is not simply the completion of a program … but is the transformation they undergo along the way,” Blakley said.

Fairchild is a professor in the ECC Automotive Collision and Repair and Painting program. She joined the faculty in 2009 and co-organized “Girls in the Garage,” a car show that showcased classic vehicles owned by women, she said.

“I wanted to create a safe space for women to ask their questions, get confident using tools, basic maintenance,” Fairchild said.

Fairchild’s work aims to encourage female participation in automotive careers, emphasizing that fixing cars is inclusive to everyone.

Freeman is the founder and CEO of the Bessie Morris Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 2005 in honor of her grandmother, Bessie Bernice Morris.

“My primary focus is to work with young ladies and try to lift them up; let them know that they are seen, they are heard, they are beautiful and we do that in multiple ways,” Freeman said.

Freeman’s foundation inspires young women to realize their dreams, emphasizing academic performance, self-esteem, self-sufficiency and confidence.

It offers leadership development training, health education, mentorship, personal development, character building programs for at-risk underprivileged girls, according to The Bessie Morris Foundation.

Passionate about supporting students affected by the criminal justice system, Gonzalez is the student specialist for ECC’s Formerly Incarcerated Re-Entry Students Thriving Program.

“I’ve had the privilege of helping build a program from the ground up, something I had never done before,” Gonzalez said.

With the support she received during her time as a former ECC sociology major, Gonzalez is now dedicated and committed to giving back and helping formerly incarcerated students navigate their education.

Similarly, Hernandez plays an essential role in student support as a counselor and co-coordinator of the ECC Puente Project.

Hernandez strives to actively participate and create programs that foster a more empowering, diverse environment.

“I know they’re amazing in their way and I’m amazing in my own way, and that’s what I try to instill in my students. You’re amazing, in your own way,” Hernandez said.

Hernandez also contributed to the creation of the MICASA Center on campus, a center aimed at fostering an inclusive community where Hispanic students and allies can thrive.

Humphrey is a professor of ethnic studies at ECC, with a master’s degree in arts from Henderson State University and a doctorate in race and ethnic studies from the University of California, Los Angeles.

Humphrey’s work centers around media and book advocacy, dealing with the local and global educational empowerment of young women.

On a global scale, she has worked and engaged in regions of Africa, opening up micro-libraries, as well as working on programs that amplify Black voices.

Frankie Davis, 30, a paralegal studies major at ECC and a student of Humphrey’s, said a few words about how she transformed his life.

“Her work is astounding. Her class is a transformative experience … When I had the opportunity to nominate a professor … I just had to give Dr. Amina her props. It was amazing, she inspired me to become a better person,” Davis said.

Each recipient gets their portrait installed in the Women’s Hall of Fame in the Schauerman Library, along with their names engraved on a perpetual plaque.

Blakley reflects and honors the strength and wisdom passed down from the women who came before her, having endured challenges and shared knowledge.

“They taught me resilience, integrity and an immeasurable worth of curiosity, and though their names may not appear in academic journals, I stand here as evidence of their unwielding legacy,” Blakley said.