U.S. Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) has announced the five winners of the 2025 Congressional Women of the Year award from the Central Coast.

The five winners of this year’s award are: Alison Wales of Lompoc, JoAnne Meade Young of Santa Barbara, Lisa Kawamura of Arroyo Grande, Julie Rodewald of Los Osos, and Cherie Eulau of Ventura.

“Each year, I am inspired by the extraordinary women who are shaping the future of the Central Coast,” said Carbajal. “The 2025 Women of the Year winners represent the very best of our region — leaders, educators, advocates, and public servants who have dedicated themselves to uplifting others and driving meaningful change.

“From San Luis Obispo to Ventura, their stories are powerful reminders of the strength and spirit that define our district. I am proud to recognize their achievements in the Congressional Record and to celebrate their invaluable contributions.”

The Congressional Women of the Year Award honors exceptional women across the 24th Congressional District who have made a positive impact on their communities. Winners span a variety of backgrounds and professions and represent the thousands of women working tirelessly to improve the quality of life on the Central Coast. 

Carbajal will recognize the winners by permanently entering the accomplishments of each woman into the official Congressional Record, preserving their stories and their impact on the community. An award ceremony will be held at a later date where each honoree will also receive a special congressional pin.

Below are the biographies for this year’s honorees:

Alison Wales is an advocate for survivors of sexual violence. She was instrumental in establishing a 24/7 crisis hotline at the North County Rape Crisis Center and creating a prevention education program that works with local schools to reduce incidents of sexual violence.

Wales also launched the She Raised Her Hand initiative to address the unique challenges faced by female veterans, many of whom struggle with PTSD, military sexual trauma, and reintegration into civilian life. She is a true champion for the North County community.

JoAnne Meade Young attended a segregated two-room school through the third grade. Learning did not come easily to her, which motivated her to ensure that low-income children, children of color, and children with learning disabilities and ADHD were recognized and placed on a path to educational success.

When she moved to Santa Barbara in 1990 to become principal of Mountain View School in Goleta, she became the school’s first Black principal. Over the next 17 years, she served as principal of Brandon School, El Rancho School, Ellwood School, and as director of the Goleta State Preschool.

Even in retirement, Young has continued to serve the community. She ran the Santa Barbara Spelling Bee for five years; helped found the Santa Barbara Martin Luther King Jr. Committee; and served as a board member of the Family Services Agency and as the District 2 Commissioner for Women.

Her commitment to equity and education has left a lasting impact on generations of students and the broader Santa Barbara community.

Lisa Kawamura is president of the Executive Board of the Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Faculty Association union. She fights to ensure her colleagues receive the pay and treatment they deserve.

As a woman of color, she is particularly supportive of other women-of-color faculty and encourages them to speak up for themselves, no matter who else is in the room.

Kawamura is also a 27-year lecturer in the Department of Communication at Cal Poly SLO, where she has taught public speaking to hundreds of students . Kawamura has been a featured speaker at the SLO County Women of Color Network’s annual Women of Color Symposium for two consecutive years.

Through her leadership, advocacy and teaching, Kawamura continues to empower both colleagues and students, leaving a meaningful mark on the Cal Poly community and beyond.

Julie Rodewald’s dedication to democracy and public service has shaped lives in San Luis Obispo for decades. She served for 33 years in the Office of the SLO County Clerk-Recorder, ensuring everyone had the right to vote.

Even in retirement, she continues to advocate for voting rights. She serves on the Board of Directors for the SLO County League of Women Voters and launched the Empowering the Voters of Tomorrow, Today initiative, which registered or pre-registered some 3,500 local high school students.

Rodewald worked with the Latino Voter Engagement Project to help Spanish speakers in the community exercise their right to vote. She helped create a short film “Forever Voters” to inspire civic engagement. Her dedication to ensuring every citizen exercises their right to vote is truly inspiring.

Cherie Eulau taught for 27 years in the Ventura Unified School District, shaping generations of young people in the process. Her classes on world history, government, and economics inspired many to pursue careers in public service.

Eulau went above and beyond, developing interactive lesson plans that helped students truly understand the past and how it shapes the present.

She also encouraged her students to get involved in the community, partnering with organizations like the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE) on issues such as environmental justice and voting rights.

Eulau brings joyful optimism and fiery energy to igniting the minds and hearts of local youth, encouraging them to raise their voices and change the world around them.