A Young Woman Lost But Remembered Through Scholarship

Hayward Area Recreation Department Honors Former Employee

By: Meghan Toussaint

The same day as the tragedy, the staff of the Hayward Plunge came together and decided to honor Karen with something that would last for many years to come. Because Karen was using the money she made at the pool and other jobs to put herself through college, the staff came up with the idea of the Karen M. Gordin Scholarship Fund. As soon as the word got out, swimmers and the parents of young swimmers pulled out their checkbooks and gave money to the fund. The money funded a scholarship given to lifeguards.

The pamphlet describes the scholarship as, "… an educational scholarship that is intended to be awarded to an aquatic student employee who will be seeking a post secondary education…" The pamphlet requires that applicants exhibit qualities that Karen embodied, which are described as, "…kind, responsible, diligent, sweet, thoughtful, helpful, compassionate, dependable, and mature."

Applicants must be a senior in high school or enrolled in college, have a 3.0 cumulative GPA, plan on attending college in the fall, and are currently certified and have working experience as a lifeguard or swim instructor.

Those who applied were asked to turn in the completed packet of questions and personal information by August 1 of this year. They are told that only the most qualified applicants will be invited to an oral interview conducted by the committee. The committee was set up with 5 people, a few representing H.A.R.D., a family member to represent Karen, and an unconnected outside person with an unbiased opinion. Robin Toussaint, a member of the committee, commented, " We were looking for two people who were like Karen in personality as well as work ethic." The committee chose two people, one that had worked for H.A.R.D. as a lifeguard and another from an agency outside the county.

After a long and hard selection process, the committee chose Courtney Stewart of Castro Valley, who will be attending Fresno State College, and Caroline Burke of Antioch, who will attend Cal State Long Beach. Both women will receive a $1000 scholarship for college tuition.

Karen Gordin was a wonderful person who touched a life every day by just showing up to work with a smile. She accomplished many things in her short life, such as teaching, dancing, competing, being an intern at a local television station, and being able to smile at 5:00 am. Karen will never be forgotten by her extended family at the Hayward Plunge and they honor her memory with this scholarship.