New Scholarship at CHS

It is my pleasure to tell you of a new scholarship foundation in Barstow. It was just recently announced to the schools in the newsletter that went out from BUSD Superintendent Bergmans.

The good news of the Friends of Central High School Foundation (FCHSF), a non-profit corporation, was set up to specifically award scholarships to former students who have been out of school for awhile and now want to further their education.

The purpose of FCHSF is to assist applicants pay tuition and book fees at the institution of their choice, such as barber school, auto mechanic, culinary art or other trade schools, or colleges (community or four-year) or other additional schooling to prepare the applicants for their chosen careers. The amounts of the scholarships may vary depending upon the amount of tuition required and the needs of the applicants.

The idea for this foundation was a dream of Margaret Sansom, CHS teacher for 33 years. She spent her entire teaching career in Barstow at CHS, starting the year after the school opened in a location on First Ave. She retired in 2004. She says her dream of having scholarships for former CHS students began about eight years ago, but the actual process didn't start until February 2006. The process to gain non-profit status for funds raised, took 11 months! Dave Allen, a friend met at a teaching seminar, offered help to Sansom with all paperwork to give guidance "so that everything could be done right the first time around."

The motto of Sansom's dream is "The key to the future opens the door to success." She also had the support of her good friend, Sharon Price, on the office staff at CHS for the last 27 years there. Both retired in 2004. They both mentioned often seeing someone from CHS when out and about town.

Margaret Sansom, Sharon Price, Julie McIntyre and Marilyn Danley established FCHSF. They have since added Kathryn Alvarado and Shawna Bennett to the Board of Directors. There is an opening for one more member.

There are also openings on the Advisory Board for community members to help further the foundation. The board will not have voting rights, but may be invaluable in providing fund raising and other ideas. They are especially looking for ideas that are not already in place by other non-profit organizations in our area.

Sansom says, " We are just beginning the process of making the presence of FCHSF known in the community and of asking for donations." They hope to have funds available by fall to offer to applicants. Check out "About Town" for more information.

In the meantime let us salute this very worthwhile scholarship opportunity to former CHS students wanting to further their education and to those hoping working to provide it. Help spread the word!

The contact to encourage support, for more information, to volunteer to serve and to send contributions is: Margaret I. Sansom, P.O. Box 1274, Barstow, Calif. 92312-1274 or call 256-9076.

ABOUT THE WRITER:

Helen Bendure is a correspondent for the Desert Dispatch She can be contacted at rimrock83@aol.com