El Camino College to Celebrate 75 Years Honoring Distinguished Alumni, Community Supporters
El Camino College will honor four exceptional alumni at the 2022 Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Awards dinner scheduled for March 4, 2022 at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach. The gala event will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of El Camino College. In addition, one area philanthropist, one regional corporate partner, and one community donor will be recognized with the Gratitude Award. The El Camino College Foundation chairs the selection committee and sponsors the biennial awards ceremony.
El Camino College Distinguished Alumni have furthered their educational and career goals and have shown outstanding achievements in their chosen field in addition to philanthropic and volunteer work. Through the years, honorees have gained local, state, and national recognition for their involvement in the fields of art, medicine, politics, business, and education.
“We look forward to celebrating El Camino’s 75th anniversary while we recognize the accomplishments of former El Camino College students at the 2022 Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Awards event,” said El Camino College President Brenda Thames. “Our outstanding alumni have made a positive impact on their communities and beyond, and continue to inspire current students to succeed. We are also pleased to recognize our supporters with the Gratitude Awards, honoring the invaluable funding from our community.”
This year’s honorees include Karin Baker, American Honda Motor Co., Inc.; Marilyn and Ian MacLeod, entrepreneurs; Kirk Rossberg, president, Torrance Bakery; and Francisco X. Rivera, Sports Broadcaster for Fox Sports.
Karin Baker is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility Local Unit at American Honda Motor Co., Inc. As a Local CSR Associate at Honda, Karin is responsible for local corporate social responsibility, associate community engagement, Business Resource Group (BRG) facilitation, and community event coordination. Karin joined American Honda’s Corporate Community Relations team in 1997 and throughout her 24- year career at American Honda, she has had the opportunity to expand her role to work with the local South Bay community, as well as on national and global initiatives.
Marilyn and Ian MacLeod After attending Morningside High School in the 1950’s, Marilyn and Ian headed to El Camino College. They had the opportunity to start a business in the scrap metal and recycling fields, where they were able to grow the business exponentially over the years. They are regarded by their colleagues and employees as being honest and smart, treating everyone with respect. Marilyn and Ian are revered as kind-hearted and generous by all who know them.
Francisco X. Rivera is a bilingual sportscaster who specializes in soccer, football and baseball. He
started his on-air career in 2005 as one of the youngest on-air talents in American
television. On June 2013, he became the first Mexican-born broadcaster on the FOX
broadcast Network. Rivera is in his 13th year with FOX Deportes, mainly as play-by-play
announcer and reporter for Major League Baseball games across the United States. On
October 24, 2012, Rivera became the youngest broadcaster to call a World Series game
on Spanish television in the United States. He has also served as a host and analyst
of their NFL coverage, including Super Bowl XLVIII. On October 30, 2018, Francisco
was announced as the new Spanish voice of the Los Angeles Kings on KWKW 1330AM ESPN
Deportes Radio.
Kirk Rossberg Kirk opened Torrance Bakery in 1984. He first opened with a staff of eight, occupying
1,200 square feet. The bakery has grown to its current thriving business employing
103 people in 18,000 square feet over two locations. Kirk was the Torrance Area Chamber
of Commerce President in 2020 and received the Small Business Advocate of the Year
from the CA Chamber of Commerce in 2020 for his work on behalf of local businesses.
Kirk has also volunteered his time serving on the board of directors of the Salvation
Army, Retail Baker’s Association where he served as president, and the South Bay Workforce
Investment Board.In addition, this year the El Camino College Foundation will honor
one area philanthropist, one local corporate partner, and one community supporter
with the Gratitude Award. This award recognizes longtime support of El Camino College
students to help ensure they have a successful and productive educational experience
Mary Haag | Individual
Mary has been a long-time supporter and advocate for El Camino College. Her husband
Robert (Bob) Haag worked at El Camino for his entire career beginning in 1958, and
after retiring in 1994, ran for office and was the president of the ECCCD Board of
Trustees. He was instrumental in the music department, hence the name of the Robert
Haag Recital Hall on campus. Mary and Bob spent many years on the ECC campus together.
Sadly, Bob passed away in 2005, but Mary has carried on their tradition of loving
and supporting El Camino College and its students through multiple scholarships in
their name.
Northrop Grumman | Corporate
Over the past 16 years, Northrop Grumman has donated almost $1 million to El Camino
College to benefit students and programs, primarily in the area of STEM education
including scholarships and support for programs. Northrop Grumman has also had a long
partnership with the El Camino Manufacturing program, and has hired ECC students and
trained them at classes on campus. Northrop Grumman has been a longtime South Bay
partner to ECC.
Manhattan Beach Rotary | Community
The Manhattan Beach Rotary has been supporting student scholarships at El Camino since
2008 and has donated close to $100,000. Their scholarship committee selects the students
carefully each year. The organization has also provided food and supplies to the Warrior
Pantry, and individual members have also donated funds to support the pantry and the
President’s Circle program. The partnership has grown over the years, and we are grateful
for their support and generosity.
Special thanks to the Gala sponsors: Northrop Grumman, American Honda Motor Co., Inc., Chevron, Skechers, SkyOne Federal Credit Union, SoCalGas, Torrance Refining Company, California State University Dominguez Hills, JP Morgan Chase, Roadium, West Basin Municipal Water District and World Back to Work.
The 75th Anniversary Gala | Distinguished Alumni & Gratitude Awards dinner is set for 5:30 p.m. March 4, 2022 at the Westdrift Manhattan Beach, 1400 Parkview Ave, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266. Tickets are $175 per person and may be reserved online at www.elcamino.edu/75Gala or by contacting the El Camino College Foundation office at foundation@elcamino.edu or 310-660-6040.