Civil Rights activist to address Amador students

BLACK HISTORY MONTH - The passing of Corretta Scott King on Jan. 31 was a sobering way to start Black History Month, but it has made this year's celebration all the more poignant, emphasizing the importance of reflecting on this part of our American heritage.

On Thursday, the Amador Black Student Union will host an outstanding speaker, the Rev. Samuel "Billy" Kyles, who has served as pastor of the Monumental Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., since 1959. Not only is he a leading authority on the civil rights movement, he was an eyewitness to the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He is the only person still living to have spent the last hour with King.

He served on the Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad under the Clinton administration and as a panelist at the White House Conference on Hate Crimes.

Kyles will speak as part of Amador Valley's fifth annual Unity Festival, which will also include performances by Bay Area entertainers and talented Amador students.

"We hope to celebrate multiculturalism in an exciting as well as educational format," said James Vaughn, chairman of the special education department at Amador Valley High School and advisor to the Black Student Union. Vaughn is responsible for bringing Kyles to Amador, having heard him speak at Tracy High School last year, where Vaughn is a member of the school board.

The festival is open to the community. Because it takes place on campus during school hours, those interested should contact Vaughn directly by e-mail at jvaughn@pleasanton.k12.ca.us or call 925-461-6100, Ext. 5276 or voicemail, 925-461-7520, Ext. 36, to make arrangements.

CELEBRATING SHARON -- "Last June, one of our best sophomore students left us forever." With those sobering words, Foothill High School civics teacher Cindy Juarez told me about her student Sharon Cao, who passed away in her sleep June 12. Sharon would now be a junior and would have competed with the Foothill civics team this year.

"Sharon Cao was a brilliant, charismatic young lady. Her late nights, contagious laugh and 'evil' glare were known to many," Juarez recalled fondly.

Peers and friends have created the Sharon Cao Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will give a one-time scholarship award to a member of her class, the class of 2007, upon graduation.

Sarah Bunker, club treasurer, said: "There are about 30 people working on this, but we've organized it into a sort of club." Fellow club officers are Spring Sun, president; Sunny Tripathy, vice president; and secretary Sunny Agriwal.

"So far we have been focusing things at our high school," Bunker said.

Teachers spoke at Back-to-School night and handed out fliers about the scholarship. Articles have also appeared in the student newspaper. Fall fund-raisers included candy sales and a Chinese food booth at the Club Fair at Foothill.

"Both of those gave us seed money which is going towards more fund raising, such as a car wash and bake sale we're planning for spring," Bunker said.

The scholarship will be based purely on academic merit.

"She was a very advanced and successful student," Bunker said of Cao.

The club has yet to determine application criteria, but know it will involve submitting a transcript and personal essay.

"A teacher will assess applications to determine which applicant has the most academic potential and in general exudes Sharon's character best," Bunker said.

To donate, make your check payable to "Sharon Cao Scholarship Fund" and mail it to Cindy Juarez at Foothill High School, 4375 Foothill Road, Pleasanton, CA 94588. Donations are tax-deductible. Any questions about donations can be e-mailed to cjuarez@pleasanton.k12.ca.us.

Reach Susan Groshans c/o the Times, PO Box 607, Pleasanton, CA 94566 or e-mail Aroundpleas@aol.com.