Posted: March 3, 2020Written by: Ritchie Bermudez

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cuesta College and The Community Foundation San Luis Obispo County’s Women’s Legacy Fund announce the recipients of the 2020 Women of Distinction awards. The distinction recognizes four outstanding women for their professional and civic contributions to the Central Coast community.

The program celebrates Women’s History Month (March) and recognizes the contributions local women make in the areas of volunteerism, professionalism, and philanthropy. Honorees are nominated by their peers and chosen by a selection committee. The public is invited to the awards ceremony on Thu, Mar. 19, at 4:00 p.m. at Cuesta College’s San Luis Obispo Campus in Rm. 5401.

The 2020 Women of Distinction honorees are:

Patricia Nemec Ashbaugh – Community and Public Service, Professional

Awarded to a woman who has, by virtue of her profession, distinguished herself by providing outstanding professional service to the community.

Patricia Nemec Ashbaugh is very active in the community outside her profession and family. She was one of the first women practicing law in the County when she arrived in 1977. She co-founded the Women’s Network of San Luis Obispo in 1979 and wrote the first by-laws. Ashbaugh has mentored the SLO High School Mock Trial team for several years and currently volunteers for the Performing Arts Center and Transitions-Mental Health. Patricia received the Outstanding Woman Lawyer award from the Women Lawyers Association of San Luis Obispo County in 2017. Over 42 years of service, she has mentored dozens of young lawyers from the local Bar Association and continues to advocate for criminal offenders who have a mental illness. (Pictured above: first)

Shirley Bianchi – Grace N. Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award

Awarded to a woman with distinguished service and dedication to women in more than one of the three categories, and over an extended length of time throughout her professional or volunteer career. 

Shirley Bianchi has served as a volunteer member and volunteer chair for many local groups and was elected to the SLO Board of Supervisors for two terms in 1999-2006, as well as serving on the Cambria Community Health Care District Board of Trustees. She co-founded six local organizations, four of which continue operating today, and provided leadership in other organizations in which she participated. Bianchi resigned from public service in 2018, at the age of 88. Her greatest achievement is recognized as her efforts for permanent conservation of the 82,000-acre Hearst Ranch and 18 miles of coastline in 2005. (Pictured above: fourth)

Jeannie Malik – Community and Public Service Award, Volunteer

Awarded to a woman who has distinguished herself as a volunteer by providing outstanding service to the community.

Jeannie Malik is an active community volunteer, having served in the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce as an Ambassador and Committee Chair, as well as a Chamber Board Member. She has volunteered as a member and Board Chair for the Chamber Women in Business Board, Committee for Atascadero Public Schools, Atascadero Colony Days Tent City, and has served as the Vice President and President of the Friends of the Atascadero Library. In 2011, Malik was chosen as the Gold Citizen of the Year by the Atascadero District Teachers Association. She currently volunteers with Dancing With Our Stars, an organization encouraging community pride, inviting other nonprofits to join them in their fundraising efforts. (Pictured above: second)

Jan Howell Marx – Progress for Women Award

Awarded to a woman whose commitment to a particular program or issue of special relevance to women has helped to improve the quality of life for women.

Jan Howell Marx is dedicated to building the next generation. She currently serves as the Campus Dean of the nonprofit San Luis Obispo College of Law, bringing together her deep experience as an English teacher, university administrator, lawyer, and city councilwoman. Students and community legal access both benefit from her applied skills and contacts. She counsels night school law students and is energized by their persistence while they juggle fulltime jobs and families. She served as the mayor of San Luis Obispo from 2010-2016, making her the longest-serving woman mayor in the County, and served as a SLO Councilwoman from 1998-2002 and 2008-2010, among many other positions with community-based organizations. (Pictured above: third)

Tickets to the awards ceremony are $25 and are available for purchase on The Community Foundation SLO County’s website or by calling (805) 543-2323. Parking is free for attendees in Lot 2. Food and coffee will be served at the event, and the Cuesta College Music Ensemble will provide music.

For more information on the Women of Distinction Awards or the Community Foundation, please visit www.cfsloco.org or call (805) 543-2323. For more information about Cuesta College, please visit www.cuesta.edu or call (805) 546-3100.