The Stanislaus County Commission for Women will honor at an event next month 10 women and one man for their advocacy and service, especially for women and children, in Stanislaus County.

Every year, the commission receives a slate of nominations that highlight the awesome work being done to make the county a better place for all. This year’s honorees include women from Turlock, Modesto, Patterson, Ceres and Newman. They embody that work in the arts, agriculture, business, education, health, and in the legal field. The 2025 Outstanding Women of Stanislaus County brunch celebration will be held at 10 a.m. March 15 at Greens on 10th in Modesto. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at: bit.ly/ow2025.

Theresa Kiehn, of Turlock, is one of the 2025 honorees. Kiehn is firmly grounded in the agricultural community, where she advocates for the advancement and betterment of women in the industry, focusing especially on safety as president and CEO of AgSafe.

AgSafe is a Modesto-based nonprofit organization that provides practical health and safety education to the agricultural community. Since 1991, they have trained over 100,000 employers, supervisors, and farm workers in the most critical issues impacting worker safety, human resources, pesticide safety, and food safety. During her 12 years with the organization, AgSafe has tripled in size and expanded their scope to reach food and farming operations across the nation. Her career also includes tenure with the Great Valley Center and her family business, Fontana Farms. She currently serves as the president of the Turlock Certified Farmers Market and is also on the board of directors for the California Farmland Trust. She earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from California State University, Stanislaus.

Other honorees include:

·         Angela K. Drew (Modesto): A dancer, author, and poet, Drew currently serves as Poet Laureate for the City of Modesto. She performs her powerful poetry all over the country and also serves as the Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Co-Lead for Kaiser where she’s received numerous certifications and accolades.

·         Gabriela Hernandez (Patterson): Hernandez serves on the Patterson City Council, after having served on numerous local committees. She is the founder of The Kindness Knot, a movement dedicated to promoting compassion and understanding.

·         Polet Hernandez (Ceres): A behavioral health social worker, Hernandez is the founding coordinator for Undocumented Student Services at CSU Stanislaus, and is a dedicated supporter of undocumented families in both her professional and volunteer efforts.

·         Gil Howard (Modesto): Howard, affectionately known as “Mr. Gil,” is the recipient of the Bette Belle Smith Award. His advocacy work with World Relief grew into serving as a driver’s ed instructor for Afghan refugee women, where he is known for his kindness and patience, teaching women to navigate their new communities.

·         Danyel Jacobo (Modesto): Jacobo uses her artistic talent to support and uplift incarcerated youth and victims of domestic violence. She teaches art in various alternative education programs and works as a Student Support Advocate.

·         Rosizela Perez Jordan (Modesto): A career educator, Perez Jordan has been a teacher, vice principal, and principal and leveraged her considerable educational experience as a founding board member of the Modesto Children’s Museum.

·         Janet Lancaster (Modesto): Lancaster is receiving the Outstanding Trailblazer Award posthumously. A long time teacher, she served the communities around El Vista Elementary as well as Wilson and Robertson Road Elementary schools. She volunteered extensively, and at the McHenry Museum served as an archivist, researcher, and historian.

·         Andrea Pegarella (Modesto): Pegarella oversees the “Day of Respect” at Modesto High School, where community members share stories of overcoming challenges, including discrimination. In her teaching career, she works to bring new perspectives to her students through innovative classes and organizations.

·         Judge Carrie Stephens (Newman): Judge Stephens served in the US Navy, as a deputy public defender, and a counsel advocate for a child welfare agency advocating for abused and neglected children. Since 2018, she has served  as a Stanislaus County Superior Court Judge.

·         Lourdes Uranday (Modesto): Uranday is the founder of the Be Anything Museum which celebrates resilience, diversity, and the power of women’s dreams. She uses the museum and her volunteer work within the community to provide mentorship, leadership, and empowerment for others.