State Sen. Anthony Cannella this week announced the 12th Senate District’s Woman of the Year, in accordance with Women’s History Month.
Cannella, who represents San Benito County, announced the winner is Salinas resident Ruth Andresen
In a statement, he called her a “truly remarkable woman.”
According to the announcement from Cannella: “From her service to our country during World War II to the almost half-century dedicated to the students of Monterey County, Ms. Andresen is more than deserving of the 12th District’s Woman of the Year,” said Senator Cannella. “She has been a role-model to generations of Monterey County residents.”
Andersen, 92, was first elected to the Monterey County Board of Education in 1963 and served 12 terms over 48 years. During World War II, she worked for the Military Geology Unit, which assisted in developing pre-invasion plans for Europe and Asia. In the 1960’s, she received a research grant from the National Science Foundation to study ocean currents, according to Cannella.
Cannella will recognize Andresen in May at a luncheon held by IMPOWER in Salinas.