La Canada Professor Honored as Woman of the Year by Assemblyman Gatto

So proud to have honored Dr. Frances Arnold on the Assembly floor yesterday. Dr. Arnold, of Cal Tech, was recently awarded the National Medal of Science, the highest honor the US government can give to a scientist. She is an inspiration to so many.  The article below is from the La Canada Flintridge Patch.

Dr. Frances Arnold was received the "Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award from
the California Legislative Women's Caucus on Monday.  She was nominated
for the award by Assemblyman Mike Gatto.

Caltech Professor Honored by State Legislators

La Cañada resident Frances Arnold is the only woman to receive engineering's highest award, the Charles Stark Draper Prize.

• By Natalie Ragus

Caltech Professor Frances Arnold is among 10 woman recognized Monday at the California Legislative Women's Caucus "Breaking the Glass Ceiling" award ceremony in Sacramento.

The ceremony commemorates the achievements of women who have made a great contribution to California and have inspired women and girls in the state. 

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Burbank) nominated the La Cañada resident for her accomplishments in science, medicine and engineering.  

Arnold is the only woman to receive the Charles Stark Draper Prize—the engineering profession's highest honor. She is also the only woman to be elected to all three U.S. National Academies of Science, Medicine and Engineering.

Dr. Arnold was escorted on to the Assembly floor by Assemblyman Gatto
where she received a standing ovation for her accomplishments.

In December, President Barack Obama presented her with a National Medal of Technology and Innovation, the highest award granted to scientists in the U.S.

Gatto learned of Arnold’s efforts after reading a newspaper article about her.  Immediately, he knew the state should honor her, also. 

“I owe so much to the strong women in my life, like my mother, who fought her way through night law school while raising three kids," Gatto said in a media statement. "It is so important that we recognize these woman leaders for their positive effects on society. Dr. Arnold is an inspiration to us all.”
You can read this article and more at the Patch, by clicking HERE
Mike Gatto is the chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly. He represents Burbank, Glendale, La Cañada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, and the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto