CHINO - Without any bionic powers, Emmy Award-winning actress Lindsay Wagner's presence was welcomed by more than 200 prisoners at the California Institution for Women in celebration of the seventh annual National Women's History Month.

Photo Gallery: National Women's History Month at CIM

As the unshackled women sat in tightly lined rows awaiting Wagner's speech, an aura of excitement filled the air as the afternoon promised to deliver inspiration to those who would let it.

The afternoon highlighted accomplishments of inmates as artwork and essay awards were given to some, while others showed off their singing and dancing talents.

The prison's choir sang a worship praise and a dozen red-skirted Samoan dancers tapped bare feet to the beat of PVC pipes beating on white bucket drums.

Wagner was given a standing ovation by the inmates when she approached the podium, which was followed by whistles, a long applause and shouts of "I love you."

"Why do you love me?" Wagner asked the crowd.

Responses were that she cared enough to be there, that she was an inspiration with her movie career and because she was the Bionic Woman.

"Power is a divine gift that each one of us have," Wagner said, then proceeded with a message on balancing life.

She encouraged inmates not to use television as a guidance in their lives.

"When they write shows, there's conflict with the good guys and bad guys," she said. "But we can't just keep having this dualistic way of life."

Wagner was one of three speakers who addressed the theme of "Generations of Women Moving History Forward" and the building of self-esteem within prison walls.

For inmate Jennifer Brown-Anselmo, 38, giving birth at CIW to her son Dylan, now 7 months old, suddenly made the world a different place. She said he is her inspiration to never return after she is released in October.

Brown-Anselmo said the prison's hobby program has helped her to focus on her son, where she learned to make a picture quilt that is a handmade replica of Dylan's face.

"I've taken all my love and maternal instincts and managed to put my heart into each scrap (of the quilt)," she said.

Blanche Banuelos, hobbycraft manager for the program at CIW, said 800 inmates participate quarterly, and she instructs nearly 70 of them each day.

Quilts, purses, paintings, key chains and tissue boxes are some of the items she teaches inmates to handcraft, and the program allows them to sell the items to visitors.

"They make things for sale and use the money to send home to family or to be self-sufficient," Banuelos said.

She said the inmates learn self-esteem and confidence and feel a sense of success.

"Their families can't believe they make these things," she said of the many items on display.

Chaffey College President Marie Kane also spoke to the women and discussed the degree program offered by Chaffey, which expects to deliver associate degrees to 26 CIW inmates at the first graduation ceremony next May.

Chaffey brought its program to CIW in 2005, and the women are taught through distance learning that incorporates videos, books and tutoring.

Dianne Fellman, who received an award at the ceremony for an essay she wrote, is one of the inmates on the path to graduating.

She attends the distance learning class four nights a week and said the experience is the most rewarding she has ever had.

"It's extremely beneficial and I encourage anyone in prison to take advantage of it," she said.

Fellman may never have the chance to use her education outside the prison walls, though, because she said she is serving a life sentence with the possibility of parole.

"It makes me a better person," she said as she sat down several feet away from where her self-portrait and essay were on display.

Wagner's message ended with a reminder to the women that they were individuals who could love their inner selves.

"Everything you saw and loved and fell in love with about me, is in you or you couldn't recognize it," she said. "Those are all a reflection of our identity - don't ever forget that."