USC’s eighth annual Remarkable Women Awards, a ceremony sponsored by the Office of Campus Activities and Women’s Student Assembly, was held on March 3.

Twelve Trojan women — staff, faculty, undergraduate and graduate students — received commendation for their contributions to USC.

“You can’t believe how much these women are actually doing,” said Heather Larabee, assistant dean of students and director of Campus Activities, and a 2009 recipient of the award. “They all have done outstanding things in their field for the students on campus or in the community.”

A committee comprised of faculty, staff, students and past Remarkable Women reviewed the nominees. Recipients were honored at the ceremony with short speeches, plaques and flowers.

Jennifer Siu, recognized for her dedication as associate director of Recreational Sports, found the award particularly meaningful.

“It was an affirmation of years of hard work,” she said. “I think women should be appreciated, and the administration should recognize the women on this campus.”

Berit Elam, director of the Women’s Student Assembly, agreed.

“A lot of times, the faces of success that we see are those of men,” she said, “and this is a chance to highlight many of the female leaders and achievers.”

The 2010 Remarkable Women are:

Lynn Swartz Dodd: lecturer, religion, USC College

Maja Mataric: professor of computer science, neuroscience and pediatrics; director, Center for Robotics and Embedded Systems; co-director, Robotics Research Lab; and senior associate dean for research, USC Viterbi School of Engineering

Pamela Schaff: associate professor for pediatrics and family medicine; assistant dean for curriculum; and director, Program in Medical Humanities, Arts and Ethics, Keck School of Medicine of USC

Michele Dea: administrative services manager, chemistry, USC College

Tina Koneazny: director of USC Readers Plus, Joint Educational Project

Jennifer Siu: associate director of Recreational Sports, Student Affairs

Marissa Borjon: graduate student, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism

Maud Comboul: graduate student, USC Viterbi

Wendy Vu: graduate student, USC College

Genevieve Flores: undergraduate, USC College

Laura Pomatto: undergraduate, USC Viterbi

Nina Portugal: undergraduate, USC Rossier School of Education and USC College

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