Hayward Plunge Staff Honors Former Colleague Karen Gordin

San Lorenzo college student Karen Gordin was remembered Thanksgiving Day at the Hayward Plunge, where two scholarships were presented in her honor.

Julieclaire Sheppard and Matthew Ferreira, left, receive the 2005 Karen Gordin Scholarship awards at the Hayward Plunge on Thanksgiving. With them are, from left, KTVU newsman Mark Curtis, Karen’s parents Jeff and Jana Gordin of San Lorenzo, and her brother Kevin. Karen Gordin was a KTVU intern and Cal State Hayward student when she was killed on her 19th birthday by a drunk driver in a stolen van on Nov. 27, 2001.

By Linda Sandsmark

Gordin, who was also a KTVU intern, was on her way to work at the Plunge on her 19th birthday when a drunk driver in a stolen van hit her car and killed her. The incident happened Nov. 27, 2001.

Each year at Thanksgiving since then, Hayward Plunge staff presents two $1,000 scholarships to students who work in aquatics to put themselves through college, as Karen did. She was a mass communications major who hoped to work in television.

“Karen worked 5 years for us, and I taught her to swim,” says Plunge director Robin Toussaint. “So many people were trying to help us when the accident happened. They kept handing money to us. We started the Karen Gordin Scholarship Fund as a tribute to her.”

This year’s recipients are Plunge lifeguard Matthew Ferreira of Hayward, who is a music major, and Julieclaire Sheppard of Tiburon, an open-water swimmer who participates in swims to Alcatraz. They received their scholarships at a poolside ceremony, hosted by KTVU anchor Mark Curtis. Karen’s parents, Jeff and Jana Gordin, and her brother Kevin were also there.

“Karen was near and dear to our hearts,” Curtis told them.

Donations to the fund are welcome year round. The memorial helps keep Karen’s memory alive while helping other students. They may be mailed to Bank of the West, 1058 “B” Street, Hayward, CA 94541, or brought to the Hayward Plunge, 24176 Mission Blvd., Hayward, CA 94541. Make checks payable to: Karen M. Gordin Scholarship Fund. Questions may be directed to Toussaint at 888-0123.

What are people saying about mortgages today:

Rates on 30-year mortgages edged down last week to a seven-month low. Mortgage-giant Freddie Mac reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages fell to 6.3 percent, down slightly from 6.31 percent two weeks ago. It put rates at the lowest level since they were at 6.24 percent the first week of March.

Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, Territorial Savings Bank and Wells Fargo Home Mortgages all cut their 30-year mortgage rates to 5.75 percent this week.

Most people think of a mortgage as a means to an end. After all, you buy a house, not a home loan. But a mortgage is much more than the path to homeownership. It is a financial instrument that must be managed, just like any other financial investment.