Press Release
Posted:
Lake County –Today, Rep. Mike Thompson (CA-04) announced that Ana Santana was chosen as the 2024 Lake County Woman of the Year for California’s Fourth Congressional District. Every year, Rep. Thompson selects inspiring women from California’s Fourth District to recognize their outstanding work and effort to make our community a better place over the last year.
Congressman Thompson recognizes Ana Santana as Lake County’s Woman of the Year. Accepting the award on her mother’s behalf is Daniella Santana.
“Ana Santana’s leadership and commitment to education in our district is helping to set up local students for success,” said Thompson. “For nearly two decades, she has worked at the Lake County Office of Education as a champion for family advocacy and services. As chair of the Lake County Children’s Council and a past board member of St. Peter’s Hispanic congregation, she has dramatically inspired her colleagues and those in our community. Her philanthropic efforts connect our community to a variety of initiatives, showing her passion for outreach. I am proud to recognize her as Lake County’s Woman of the Year.”
The Woman of the Year Recognition Ceremony was started in honor of Women’s History Month to recognize the service of women in our community.
Women’s History Month has its origin in California’s Fourth District. In 1978, the Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women coordinated a “Woman’s History Week” during the week of March 8th to correspond with International Women’s Day. In 1980, a group of Sonoma County women founded the National Women’s History Project (NWHP) in Santa Rosa, California. The goal of this organization was to highlight and recognize the historical national achievements made by women.
In partnership with other women advocacy groups and historians, the NWHP successfully lobbied for national recognition, with President Jimmy Carter declaring the week of March 8th as National Women’s History Week. After this accomplishment, the NWHP began advocating for the entire month of March to be designated as Women’s History Month. Seven years later, Congress officially passed legislation designating the entire month of March as Women’s History Month. Every year since, Women’s History Month has been recognized in March to uplift and celebrate the incredible contributions and accomplishments of American women.
A complete list of 2024 winners include:
• Ana Santana – Lake County
• Maria Cisneros – Napa County
• Jill Orr – Solano County
• Karen Collins – Sonoma County
• Karen Urbano – Yolo County