Coast Colleges Trustee Honored by National Women's Political Caucus

The National Women’s Political Caucus of California selected Coast Community College District trustee Lorraine Prinsky to receive the 2012 Jeannette Rankin “Courage to Run” Award for Orange County. Prinsky accepted the award this weekend at a reception in her honor.

"1992 was proclaimed the 'year of the woman' in politics after a record number of women were elected to office," Prinsky said during the ceremony. "Now 20 years later, California Women Lead, a bipartisan group supporting women candidates for office reports that out of 242 candidates running for the state legislature there are only 35 women running statewide. That is a part of the reason we are here tonight. It is important that women understand how powerful their voice can be. I am humbled by this award and am glad to support and guide women interested in running for office."

The Jeannette Rankin "Courage to Run" Awards honor women candidates who have run for elected office in California and demonstrated extraordinary courage, tenacity, and leadership during their campaigns. Honorees are nominated by NWPC CA caucuses and affiliated organizations.

"On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I am proud to serve with Lorraine as an elected trustee,” said Board President Jim Moreno. "When she was elected to the Board, she brought with her a depth and breadth of knowledge of higher education that has been invaluable to this organization. She is very deserving of this honor."

The event was held on April 21 at the Skirball Center and raised money for the NWPC CA to their work to recruit, educate and train progressive women candidates to run for elected office.