Susan Rushton commentary: More proof that this is a great community

Sixteen years ago, I was president of Auburn AAUW, an organization that for 75 years has happily and always raised funds for scholarships for local women and girls. We were doing it 16 years ago, and to our thrill and pride, we plan to continue. OK, enough advertising ... although to be honest, I'm not finished. Because 16 years ago this month, I stood on the Placer High School stage and handed out one of the scholarships AAUW gave that year. I don't remember the young woman to whom I handed the scholarship and sincerely congratulated. But I do know she was happy, and so was I. I wasn't just happy for her. I was happy for the throng of parents in the audience and the throng of students behind me, thrilled and relieved to receive scholarships. Plus, I was gobsmacked at the number of people in the audience eager and ready to hand over scholarships. I saw again that Auburn is a place filled with people who know how to use money in the best way. Individuals, service groups, community groups, businesses and individuals – there they were, eager and happy to help these students. Knowing that charmed me. But more than that, I was aware this was also going on elsewhere – that night, that week, at other high schools in Placer County. Other graduates were shaking hands and receiving scholarships in this county – plus in other towns in counties all over the state, and in other states all over the country. This isn't unusual. It's common. And we know this, because it happens every year. How wonderful. Ahh. And, this being toward the end of May, it happened this year as well. Of course it did. I tell you this because my friend Beth Falor, involved with the group in Auburn AAUW that chooses the scholarship winners for the organization, asked me if I would join her last Tuesday at the PHS Senior Scholarship Awards Ceremony and hand over three of the six awards we were giving to Placer High women. Oh my, I said yes immediately. I knew what I'd see – what I had seen my first time. Lots of people: parents and donors in the audience, and lots of students on the stage. And I was right. But to my alarm, I realized almost immediately I should have brought Kleenex. I know enough to bring it when I sit listening to the Auburn Symphony, because those people pull my heart. I just expected to be excited – I didn't expect to have wet eyes most of the time. My goodness. But the constant and eager applause got me. Watching the winners standing, grinning, holding their awards so their parents could take their pictures got me. The hugs of the presenters when they congratulated the students got me. The high fives when pals stood next to each other holding their awards got me. Also, the SIX PAGES of the program filled with the awards being given – and many organizations handed out more than one award – that got me, too. And many of the students received more than one award. See my tears? I can't include all the organizations. But you won't be surprised to learn the groups you often hear about – Kiwanis, 49er Lions, Auburn Host Lions, Rotary of Auburn, Gold Country Rotary, Masonic Lodge #16, the two Soroptimist groups, plus the Soroptimist Ruth Johnson Memorial Scholarship – they handed out several. Plus, Protect American River Canyons! Wonderful. And Native Sons of the Golden West. And Auburn Hip Hop Congress "I Have a Dream" Speaking Contest. And Auburn Area Democratic Club. This one tickled me the most: The Vernon McCann Journalism Award. Oh, gee, I was so happy. This was from – drumroll, please! – the Auburn Journal. How wonderful. And Dave Johnson and Dave Uhte (I was sitting next to them), plus Steve Mahr of the Placer County Association of Realtors, handed over three awards. Now nobody is insisting we must donate this money. It's not a law. But we want to. We want to help this town, this county, this country, one student at a time. And all of us ... really, all of us, are honored to do this. It feels so good to help these young people. And helping them helps us, as well. This wonderful armor gives me such hope. I felt so warmed, so lifted, so impressed. I congratulate us all: students, parents, school and community. I wrote that paragraph at the end of a column 16 years ago. I share it with you again. Oh, what a community! Susan Rushton's opinion column appears regularly in the Auburn Journal. Her email is goldcountrydenizens@gmail.com.