CL grad sought for Carolyn Knight scholarship

The Friday Flyer publisher Chuck Golding is keeping a promise he made to Carolyn Knight, his dear friend and business partner. Eleven years ago, the two sat in Carolyn’s living room and chatted about her pending retirement. It was there, in the spring of 2007, that Chuck made a promise he thought would be decades before he’d have to make good, he said.

“Upon my death,” Carolyn asked Chuck, “Please have the newspaper sponsor a scholarship in my name to a graduating high school senior.

I don’t care the amount or the qualifications of the recipient, but want my name associated with the promotion of education, particularly for those young women who are looking to pursue careers in writing, public affairs or journalism.”

The Carolyn Knight Memorial Scholarship is being established by The Friday Flyer and will be awarded next month. All 2018 graduating young women are eligible to apply.

The $500 scholarship will be awarded to the person who best epitomizes the standards Carolyn stood for, Chuck said. “We will be looking for someone who has plans in the writing world, particularly one who is advocating community improvement,” he said.

Applicants need only write an email outlining qualifications and describe future plans, including the name of the school she will be attending later this year. Email Chuck at chuck@goldingpublications.com. The winner will be announced in a future edition of The Friday Flyer.

Carolyn passed away last year on June 13. Throughout her life she battled a life-threatening allergy to sulfites, and had many brushes with death.

As a breast cancer survivor, she was one of four Canyon Lake women who founded the Bosom Buddies Support Group, advocating for others facing the same battle.

Carolyn always valued education, and although her plans were placed on hold when she married at age 18, she never gave up her dream of earning a college degree. After 14 years of study and raising her two girls, she obtained her BA from California State University Fullerton.

Carolyn moved to Canyon Lake with husband Vick Knight in 1981. After working with the CLPOA and editing newsletters that went to Canyon Lake residents, she became editor of the community’s newspaper, The Friday Flyer, in 1990. Later, she and Chuck became co-owners.

“With that background, it’s no wonder Carolyn was so adamant about her legacy living on after her death,” Chuck said. “We plan on doing just that.”