2022 Carolyn Knight scholarship awarded

Carolyn Knight

Canyon Lake Temescal Canyon High School graduate Haley Kielty has been named the recipient of the 2022 Carolyn Knight Memorial Scholarship awarded by The Friday Flyer. Haley is a freshman at the University of Arizona in Tempe, AZ.

“Haley is the perfect recipient of this award,” Chuck Golding, The Friday Flyer publisher, said. “Before Carolyn passed away several years ago, she was riveted on the honoring of a local young woman after her death. Haley is the ideal young woman to receive the award. She is a hard-working student and athlete who has a background of serving others in the community. She, like Carolyn, has a deep love of Canyon Lake.”

Haley’s teachers and coaches at Temescal Canyon High School give her glowing praise.

“What sets Haley apart are her sacrificial attitude, quiet drive and leadership ability,” Link Crew Advisor Colin Gilliand said. “Her peers follow her because she rolls up her sleeves and works alongside them rather than directing from above them.”

Tennis Coach Laural Hebein-Pulley said Haley is a leader who shows exemplary sportsmanship to her opponents and treats all with respect.

“I have found her to be an invaluable team member and leader,” Laural said. “I think she will bring those extraordinary qualities with her no matter what her future association.”

Carolyn Knight

Haley obtained a 4.217 grade point average while taking AP and honors classes at Temescal Canyon High School. She played varsity tennis all four years of high school and was the team captain her junior and senior years. She was the league MVP those two years and All League all four years. She was on the varsity track team her freshman and sophomore years.

She also excelled academically. In addition to her impressive GPA, Haley was on High Honor Roll at the school and was named Biology Student of the Year in 2019.

Haley is currently in Tempe at the University of Arizona attending her first semester of college. She is a Mathematics major in the College of Science there. Upon being accepted to the school, the university awarded her an Arizona Distinction Award of $35,000 per year, for a total of $140,000 toward tuition.

Haley is considering changing her major to pre-med or biochemistry, she said, because she is thinking of a career in dermatology or as a physician’s assistant.

“College has been a struggle in the beginning,” she said recently. “Handling all my classes and living on my own was a huge change and I was really homesick in the beginning. Once I got into a routine, it wasn’t as bad anymore.”

Carolyn Knight, who passed away June 13, 2017, was the Executive Editor of The Friday Flyer from 1990 until her death, the last few years in an emeritus status. The scholarship is awarded to a Canyon Lake student who best epitomizes the standards Carolyn stood for, particularly a young woman involved in community service and advocating community improvement. Carolyn’s career and community life was filled with such service and typically included writing and publishing.

“I really miss living in Canyon Lake,” Haley said. “I loved playing golf, tennis, going to the pool, going on my boat, and just hanging out with my friends. I love that Canyon Lake has so many public parks and activities for the young and old. I’m excited to go back for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the summer.”

Each year The Friday Flyer awards a scholarship to a deserving graduate, a promise Chuck made to his dear friend and business partner. Fifteen 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.

“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 I want my name associated with the promotion of education.”

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