Woman of the year: Catherine Baxter

Samo Dean, Catherine Baxter, received the Woman of the Year award on March 4, given by Senator Ben Allen. All 40 California state senators choose one woman each year to honor in Sacramento. This tradition is carried out during Women’s History Month as a way to recognize stand-out women in the state. Baxter was chosen for this award because of her dedication to the school and education while serving for 35 years at Samo as an active member of the community.The event took place in Capital Park. During the celebration, the honorees went to a luncheon, where they listened to speakers including the California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis and Senator Connie Leyva.  After lunch, they attended a ceremony and went on a tour of the capital.The honorees and the senators met up in the senate chambers, and each senator walked down the aisle with their woman of the year. Baxter says she was “blown away” to be standing next to such esteemed women such as the 2018 Rose Queen, Louise Deser Siskel and  L.A. County Sheriff's acting captain during the Woolsey Fire evacuation Lieutenant Jennifer Seetoo while she was being honored along with them.  She is also grateful for all the accolades from Samo faculty and students that she received after she returned to campus. “What [was] really special was when Dr. Shelton crashed the party and blew up his twitter about it. [Since then], so many staff, faculty [members] and students came up to me and congratulated me and supported me,” Baxter said.  Baxter felt that it was eye-opening being around so many accomplished women. When she talked to others about their experiences about being working women, she realized how lucky she has been in her professional life. Shelton fully agrees with Baxter and is incredibly proud of a Samo administrator achieving such a top honor.