Dixon Soroptimist Club Awards 4 Young Women Scholarships

Special to Dixon Patch

What better way to help advance the status of young women than by providing a caring touch- a helping hand-- as they move forward to achieve higher education and future career goals.

This year the Education Committee made a slight shift away from our typical scholarship questions and asked candidates to come up with a fundraising idea that Soroptimist might undertake. What an astonishing array of suggestions came forward!

As always, the Education Committee had the difficult task of narrowing down the selections. It is with great honor that Soroptimist of Dixon choose Alyssa Smith, Allison Bleasdale, Lauren Kett, and Paige Leber.

Alyssa Smith is an "exceptional student" as described by Amy West, DHS AP Biology Instructor. She presented Soroptimist with the fundraising idea of "Run Because You Can" it's a 5 mile community fun run inspired to raise money for both Soroptimist and Cancer Research. This young woman holds a 4.0 GPA, plans to attend UC Santa Barbara and major in Biology. A personal goal of Alyssa's is to have a positive impact on the world. She is active in leadership and as a volunteer and is a member of DHS's varsity swim and water polo teams. As our top recipient, Alyssa received $1,500 scholarship.

Allison Bleasdale is a "positive leader with mature competence" as described by Lisa Krebs, DHS Art and Design Academy Instructor. This young woman is a DHS fashion design student with amazing talent. She came up with the fundraising idea "Dixon Damsel's Desserts & Design" to showcase student's creative clothing and accessories and help make money for Soroptimist scholarships. Allison not only is into fashion, she is an amazing dancer and plans to study both at American River College in the fall. She received a $1,000 scholarship.

The next 2 recipients were honored with a Soroptimist Touch From Above Youth Advancement Award. The Touch From Above fund is a memorial award program. Its beginning came as a wonderful way to pay tribute to the life of a loved one, Frances Taylor, a founding member of Soroptimist International of Dixon. To honor her memory, we have sought a diverse group of recipients, who clearly want to make significant contributions to their families and local communities. Awardees must have a demonstrated need, contributed to their family, school and, or community and currently attend or plan to attend a college, university or technical institute. This year Lauren Kett and Paige Leber were honored.

Lauren Kett created the fundraising idea of "Guns and Roses", a Ladies fun trap shoot, with lunch and raffles. Lauren is a teen leader with FFA and 4-H and holds a 4.0 GPA. As described by Amy West, DHS teacher, she is "focused with a compassionate heart". Next fall Lauren plans on attending Montana State University to begin studies towards and Animal Science Degree. Lauren received a $750 scholarship.

Paige Leber is our second Soroptimist Touch From Above Youth Advancement Award Recipient and will also receive $750. She submitted the very creative and well organized plan for "Dixon Drive-In Nights", with 3 evenings of family movies. She is a busy young woman, and has volunteered with Toys for Tots, Coats for Kids, and most dear to her heart, at Peter Timm's Veterinary Clinic. She has been described as "reliable, motivated, and kind" by her current employer. In the fall she plans to continue her studies at Santa Monica Community College to focus on accounting and business.

Congratulations to each remarkable young woman- Alyssa, Allison, Lauren, and Paige- we are honored to have you as our 2012 Scholarship and Touch From Above Youth Advancement Award recipients. Best of luck to each of you!

Editor's Note: If you have a photo of Allison Bleasdale please share it with us by uploading it directly to this story.