2006 Scholarship Awardees

Elizabeth Ferrell Performing Arts Scholarship for $2,000 was awarded to Lonnie Stanton.  Lonnie is a graduate of Paradise High School who is currently attending the Boston Conservatory.  Her field of study is dance.  Lonnie sees dance as a beautiful combination of athleticism and artistry.  She would like to perform and work with choreography in places that will draw a deeper appreciation and interest in this art.  Dance would allow her to directly impact audiences and share the language of her soul.  You may recognize Lonnie fro her many performances with Northern California Ballet.

Women’s Improvement Club Scholarship for $380 was awarded to Korrine Martinez.  Korrine graduated this year from Paradise High School and plans to attend Butte College in the fall.  Korrine had a 3.5 grade point average, was recognized by the Elk’s Lodge as Student of the Month, she has been a peer counselor at Paradise High School and worked with the Salvation Army on their toy drive and Christmas dinner.  Korrine is a hard working person and she is committed to being the first child in her family to attend college.

George & Alice Smith Scholarships were awarded for the first time in 2006.  The scholarships for $1,000 were awarded to Catherine Brazil, Michelle Lee and Jenna Schroeder.

*Catherine Brazil is currently a junior at Dominican University of California in San Rafael.  By attending college Catherine will be able to pursue a career that will allow her to help others.  She is pursuing a Bachelor of Science ii Health Science with plans to earn her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy and start practicing by 2007.

*Michelle Lee is a second year pharmacy student at the University of the Pacific, Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, in Stockton.  She has received a Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from California State University, Chico.  As a pharmacist Michelle, looks forward to playing an active role, in conjunction with the patient’s physicians in the management and treatment of the elderly and others. (Picture unavailable)

*Jena Schroeder is currently enrolled in the Nursing School at California State University, Chico. She is convinced that she has found the career choice that she will be successful in and that she loves doing.  That career is nursing.  Nursing is just a natural occurrence through her life because she has always been concerned for others, compassionate, and nurturing. Now she is able to learn the philosophy and skills behind nursing.  Jean will graduate in the fall of 2007 and hopes to work in a local hospital.

Mollie Sacksteder Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 was awarded to Kristin Wilson.  Kristin was selected for this award because of her athletic, academic and citizenship skills.  One of the requirements for this scholarship was that the student must be an athlete who has played on a minimum of two Paradise High School sports teams each year for ALL four years of high school.  Kristin has maintained a 4.0 grade point average while participating in the sports program.  She will be attending Butte this fall.

Mollie Sacksteder Memorial “Mo Train Spirit” award went to Jean Michaels.  Jean was recommended to receive this $1,000 scholarship by the coaches at Paradise High School.  They recognize Jean for her competitive spirit, leadership and positive attitude.  These skills demonstrate the character traits that the athletic department at Paradise High School desire and value in a student athlete.  Jean will be starting Butte College in the fall of 2006.

Two, $500 scholarships, were awarded on behalf of the Bill Zonker Memorial Young Musicians Fund.  The recipients were:

*Amy Anderson attended Ridgeview High School.  She plays the guitar and piano and also sings.  Amy had been an excellent student in the area of academics.  Amy has consistently been on the school honor roll and also received honor awards through Ridgeview High School in recognition of her dedication and performance as a student.  Amy enjoys the emotional up lift she gets from playing or “jamming” with others.  Amy will be starting Butte College in the fall and hopes to complete her education at UC Berkeley.

*Jenifer Michael is a flutist.  She has held the position of 1st Chair flute in high school for three years.  Jenifer can also play the tenor saxophone in the jazz band and the vibraphone and marimba in the percussion ensemble.  Her ability to transition effortlessly between different instruments is a strong indication of not only her ability to grow as a musician, but her willingness to try new things as well, an important trait in today’s every changing world.  After she earns her degree, she plans to take music to the entire world and bring people together through its healing powers.(Picture not available)

2006 Grants & Community Awards

The A.G. Edwards Neighborhood Grant is awarded to community or neighborhood groups and organizations for small, one-time projects which are imaginative – as well as projects that are practical approaches to improving a neighborhood.  This year’s recipient was California Vocations, Inc. or as many of us on the ridge know them as COVE.  The $1,000 award will be used for planting and maintenance of flower beds located along Elliott Road near the Skyway intersection.  They will be working with local Paradise Veterans on this project and do additional planting at the cornier of Cypress Lane and Clark roads.  California Vocations participants will work with Youth for Change to design, plant, maintain and harvest a large garden in the community; they will then participate in the Paradise Farmers Market selling the vegetables and fruits from their community garden. This is a good example of individuals and organizations working together to make a difference in our community. (George Dailey, CPA, COVE Board Member & Treasurer and Bob Irving, Executive Director)

The Flood Family Fund donated $1,000 to the Gold Nugget Museum Depot project.  The depot is located in Downtown Paradise and needs a lot of work on the building and surrounding grounds.  But once that work is completed the real work begins and that is putting together exhibits at the depot for visitors and community members of all ages to enjoy.  The Depot is scheduled to open in the fall of 2006. (Alice Smith, Chair of Gold Nugget Museum Depot Restoration Project and Connie Rogers, Executive Director)

Community Challenge to the Beginning Strings Program of the Paradise Symphony.  On occasions there are projects in our community that need a little boost.  The Paradise Community Foundation felt that project was the Beginning Strings program.  The Beginning Strings program is sponsored by the Paradise Symphony and provides music education to youth on the ridge who desire to play a “string” instrument.  The Paradise Community Foundation and the Flood Family Fund an affiliate of the Paradise Community Foundation have financially supported this program in the past.  This year the Beginning Strings program was $2,000 short of their goal to continue the Beginning Strings program for next year.  So the Paradise Community Foundation Board of Directors offered a challenge to the Symphony and the Community.  If the Strings program/Paradise Symphony raised $1,000 in a 2 week period the Foundation would match the $1,000.  The Paradise Community Foundation presented a check for $1,300 to the Symphony which was a response from the community and the Thorne Fund in affiliation with the Foundation.  This means the Beginning Strings program will be available to the youth in our community for another year. (Madge Ebright, Beginning Strngs Paradise Symphony and Joe DiDucca, Donor Pictured)

Paradise Community Foundation….working to turn your vision into reality!