Benefield, Jenkins honored at Women of Inspiration awards

PHOTOS BY ROBIN KARLSSON

The who’s who of Carpinteria filled the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria gymnasium on Monday for the organization’s annual Women of Inspiration (WOI) awards, honoring local women who do notable work within the Carpinteria community.

Attendees first heard from four speakers – Lauren Bragg, Marisol Alarcon, Danielle Bordenave and Sonia Aguila – before sitting down for a lunch provided by Jessica Clark of PB&J.

Featured speaker Laura Flores, alongside the award’s emcees, then recognized WOI honorees Jane Benefield and Jena Jenkins and WOI Jr. honorees Diana Aguilar, Marisol Estrada, Ashley Gonzalez and Sofia Olvera. All four Jr. honorees are seniors at local high schools and longtime Girls Inc. members.

Flores, a former Girls Inc. ambassador, praised Girls Inc. for the role the organization praised in her life. Flores is currently a sophomore at Cal Lutheran, studying English and gender studies. She hopes to become a teacher, she told the crowd. “Girls Inc. closed the gaps between home and school,” she said on Monday. “Girls Inc. programming works.”

Benefield, a member of the Carpinteria Planning Commission for nearly two decades, worked for the city of Los Angeles and its planning department before coming to Carpinteria. Jenkins, a communications specialist, co-created the Gather for Good project, serves as the vice president of the Carpinteria-Summerland Fire Protection District Board of Directors, and works at the Carpinteria Library. Four Girls Inc. of Carpinteria members were also awarded scholarships for their work with the program. Julianna Ornelas took home the $5,000 Strong, Smart and Bold Senior Award; Viviana Medina the $1,000 Bliss Family Scholarship; Lesly Tinajero the Fuel Her Fire scholarship; and Monica Delgado the $5,000 Lucile Miller Wright Scholarship.

– Evelyn Spence