Etta was recognized for her fundraising efforts during her six-year career in ECE, which has totaled $63 million in support of ECE faculty, students, and educational and research programs. She has been the key leader in establishing the ECE Career Fair and the ECE Ph.D. Forum, a career fair for graduate students, and is a sought after mentor by ECE students and student organizations.  The Women of Distinction Awards are given to honor a female member of the Georgia Tech community who demonstrates exemplary leadership abilities while inspiring and uplifting the entire Georgia Tech Community.

Awards also went to (l-r) Janet Murray, professor in the School of Literature, Media and Communication; Tech alumna Pam Arlotto, owner of Maestro Strategies LLC; Pittman; Kara Evanoff, a Ph.D. candidate in the School of Materials Science and Engineering and Dimple Basal, a fourth-year industrial and systems engineering major.

The mission of the Women's Leadership Conference is to celebrate, recognize, and learn more about the strong leadership exhibited by women of the Georgia Tech community. The two-day conference offers workshops, speakers, and discussions aimed at training female leaders on area campuses and in the Atlanta community.