“Hopefully these students will remember someday that someone helped them and they will do something for someone later on”

DIXON, CA (MPG) - Forty-one different clubs, organizations, businesses, and individuals came together to award thousands and thousands of dollars to college-bound graduates this past week. The Dixon High School Community Scholarships Ceremony was emceed by Principal Stephanie Marquez to a large crowd of supportive families outside in the campus quad.

But, students were not the only ones being rewarded. Parents of students who passed albeit in tragic accidents or illness, as well as family members of deceased teachers or deceased members of the community were there to memorialize their beloved ones through this act of benevolence.

James Franceschi, husband of Dixon Montessori School teacher Jacy Franceschi, sought to memorialize his wife by handing out scholarships to outstanding students in the areas close to Jacy’s heart. The woman died a couple of years ago after a long and agonizing battle with cancer. Her “army” of family and friends, many who grew close through the frequent social media postings of the struggles fighting the disease, put together three scholarships of $500 each; one each in education, health, and agriculture.

Colleen and Jim Schneider, who lost their 17-year-old son, Jacob, in a tragic accident two years ago, set up their scholarship program to memorialize their son’s love of the outdoors. In 2020, the Jacob Cole Schneider Family Foundation gave out 63 scholarships. This year at the ceremony, they handed out 30 more. That set a record for the DHS scholarship program and several more organizations followed suit.

Most of the scholarship providers gave out more than one award: A Heart Enriched by Service; Alumni of Tremont; American Legion Auxiliary; American Legion Post 208; Angus Madden Memorial; Barbara Iten Memorial; Dixon Chamber of Commerce; Dixon Dolphins Swim Team; Dixon High Music Boosters; Kiwanis Club; Lions Club; Dixon Montessori School; Quarterback Club; Rotary; Rotary Interact Club; Soccer Club; Teachers Association; Women’s Improvement Club; DuPratt Ford; First Northern Bank; Friends of the Public Library; Frank E. Koehler Vocational Memorial; Jacob Cole Schneider Family Foundation Memorial; Jacy’s Army Scholarships for Women in Ag, in Education, & in Healthcare; Jose L. Gutierrez Memorial; Katie Grave Anderson Memorial; Laura Emma Meyer Scholarship; Malcolm Timm Memorial; Montezuma Lodge 172 & Bud’s Pub & Grill; Muriel M. Morris Educational Fund; Rosemarie Vinneys Memorial; Shawn Tutt Memorial; Sheri Dannenberg Memorial; Soroptimist International; TEAM Dixon; and Tully Group STEM.

Dr. Peter Timm and Pamela-Gill-Fisher handed out scholarships on behalf of the boards for the Angus Madden Scholarship Foundation and also the Muriel Morris Educational Fund.

“Hopefully these students will remember someday that someone helped them and they will do something for someone later on,” Timm said. “When I get a chance to say something, I try to remind them that when they have a few extra dollars, to pay it forward.”

There were 138 scholarships total awarded with the top honoree, Megan Kett, nabbing eight scholarships and Emma Miller winning six. The Community Scholarship Program is coordinated by the high school’s counseling office.