2022 Honorees

Meet the 2022 Distinguished Alumni and Gratitude Awards honorees that will be celebrated at the 75^th Anniversary Gala on March 4, 2022.

Distinguished Alumni

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.

	Karin Baker is part of the Corporate Social Responsibility Local Unit at American Honda Motor Company, Inc. As a Local CSR Associate, Karin oversees local corporate social responsibility, associate engagement, Business Resource Group facilitation and community event coordination. Karin joined Honda's Corporate Community Relations team in 1997. Throughout her 24-year career with the company, 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.
	Ian and Marilyn MacLeod attended Morningside High School in the 1950s and headed to El Camino College after graduation. 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. The MacLeods are regarded by their colleagues and employees as being honest and smart, treating everyone with respect. Ian and Marilyn 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 sports broadcasters in American television. In 2013, he became the first Mexican-born reporter on the FOX broadcast network. Five years later, Rivera was announced as the new Spanish voice of the Los Angeles Kings on ESPN Deportes Radio. Rivera has been with FOX Deportes for 13 years, mainly as play-by-play announcer and reporter for MLB games across the United States.
	Kirk Rossberg opened Torrance Bakery in 1984. He first opened with a staff of 8, occupying a 1,200 sq. ft. space. The bakery has grown to its current thriving business employing 103 people across two locations. Kirk was the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce President in 2020. He was awarded the 2020 Small Business Advocate of the Year from the California Chamber of Commerce. Kirk has also volunteered his time serving on the board of directors for the Salvation Army, Retail Baker's Association and South Bay Workforce Investment Board.

Gratitude Awards

In addition to the Distinguished Alumni Awards, 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.

Mary Haag | Individual
Mary has been a long-time supporter and advocate for El Camino College. Her husband Robert Haag worked at El Camino for his entire career beginning in 1958. After retiring in 1994, ran for office and was the president of the ECCCD Board of Trustees. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2005, but Mary has carried on their tradition of loving and supporting El Camino College and our 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. 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.

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. The organization has also provided food and supplies to the Warrior Pantry, and individual members have 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.