A well-dressed man, in a beige suit walked out of the bathroom with his son and were greeted by people, as they walked to the table where his family sat, and where a smaller woman was sitting dressed in all black; dress, heels, leggings and hair, with her red lipstick standing out.

Congratulations were in order for Sidney Smith, production coordinator of the Copy Center at EC and Joanna Medawar Nachef, professor of music, as they were receiving honors at the 19th Annual Faculty and Staff Appreciation and Recognition Reception.

Smith was honored the 2015 Distinguished Staff Award and Nachef was honored the 2015 Distinguished Faculty Award.

President Tom Fallo opened the up the reception with a speech asking the faculty to applaud themselves for all the hard work and dedication they put into this school. After the reception, members of the audience were invited to eat, drink and socialize; as well as take photos with both Smith and Nachef and their families.

He then acknowledged Smith first by giving a quick brief of his family, job description and what he does for the school and the community. After being awarded he felt overwhelmed.

When Fallo presented the plaque to Smith, an audience member said, “Where’s the check?”

After some moments of laughter, Fallo explained the reason behind the comment.

“When these people are honored, they go through a process,” he said. But they also “get a little financial bonus” to go with the award.

“God bless those who nominated me,” Smith said. “I feel great.”

Nachef was honored right after Smith and spoke a bit about her time at El Camino before being a professor.

“I was a student in 1977,” she said. “I looked up the word ‘distinguished’ and I remember being the antonym to the word. I’m so different now. While I was here I discovered my purpose, my passion.”

Update: April 29, 12:45 p.m. President Fallo’s name was misspelled as “Fallow” but has been corrected.