For anyone who lives in Santee and its surrounding areas, the horrific shooting at Santana High School on March 5, 2001 is forever etched in their hearts and minds. This was the day that student Andy Williams shot 15 people, two of whom died. The two students that were killed were 14-year-old Bryan Zuckor and 17-year-old Randy Gordon.
In memory of the two boys who lost their lives, a community scholarship fund was established, and the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club was asked to be the administrator of the fund. Two scholarships are awarded each year - one to a girl and one to boy. Rotarians interview and make the final selection. With an emphasis on bully prevention, eligible scholarship candidates (current students at Santana) were asked to write on the subject of bullying and how it has or has not affected their lives and things they can do to promote a non-bulling atmosphere at their school.
The funds allocated have diminished over the years and the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club was set to retire the program. One past Santana graduate Kristin Dare who is also the Executive Director for the Santee-Chamber of Commerce learned of the depleted funds and initially started a Go-Fund-Me Account to keep the program alive. She said that Santana Students agreed that at the names of Bryan and Randy would be spoken, and their memory kept alive. Her efforts grew to become a Santana Class of 2003 20-year reunion class project championed by Kristin Dare, Lauren Gaines, Andrew McPortland and El Cajon City Councilman Phil Ortiz.
On Thursday, October 5 these champions presented the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club with a check for $7,000 to ensure that Bryan and Randy's names are spoken and to honor them by keeping efforts around bulling prevention alive. This time the table was turned, and the community rallied to support the Santee-Lakeside Rotary Club's efforts by ensuring they had the funds to administer the scholarship fund to deserving students at Santana High School. It was a unique picture of cooperation and support that exemplifies Rotary's theme of Creating Hope in the World.
How fitting it was that this presentation occurred during the month of October which is National Bullying Prevention month.
Photo L-R: Andrew McPortland, Karen Flect club president, Lauren Gaines, Kristin Dare, club treasurer Bill Pommering and Councilman Phil Ortiz