Rebecca Bowlen had the honorable position of presenting a Community Asset Builder Award to Kathy Paulson. In her opening comment, Bowlen said that she could state without reservation that Kathy Paulson builds and strives to build every single one of the listed assets.

In honoring Paulson as a 2001 Community Asset Builder Award recipient, Bowlen with deeply expressed emotions read 'a work still in progress' she prepared for the special occasion.

The bright yellow insert skittered across my kitchen floor
as I whisked open the paper to find the grocery ads--
it was Wednesday after all,
and I needed to stock up my school lunch supply.
Hmm, not another fast food flyer,
but something that really deserved more of my attention
and wouldn't increase my waistline
or cholesterol lever!
Upon observation my mind whirred
and clicked immediately to the wonderful person
known as--in my eyes-- Kathy the Great...
who as an educator has touched the lives of so many children
in our island community we call home.
She sets the joyful sparks of reading
in little ones
watching it kindle and grow
shining through their eyes and actions
fanning the flames with the pages
of Magic Tree House or Boxcar Children.
Best of all, she sees them for who they are
and genuinely loves them--faults and silliness included in the mix.
These supports and commitments
are not limited to those she teaches in the classroom
for Kathy extends her thoughts and deeds
through church and youth programs
which focus on the adolescent
and all of their hills & valleys they must climb 
to reach adulthood healthy
in mind and body and spirit--
things, by the way, all of us strive for constantly
for if we are honest with ourselves
it is a battle hard won
for all of us during our lives.
Despite the overwhelming amount of time
Kathy commits to children and youth,
she exudes a beautiful and positive identity of self
which wends its way into friends' homes and lives.
Kathy takes care of herself
yes--mind and body and spirit
but in a quiet, yet purposeful way
that shows
not tells
(and if your child was in Kathy's class
you know what THAT means!)
and because of all these things
I know for a fact that
young adults
adolescents
little ones
friends
neighbors
and
I
are better people
because we have someone named
Kathy Paulson in our lives.

In accepting the award, Paulson said, "It seems to me that life in our community can be really tough. I've been here a long time and some of you guys have been here a long time. It looks like we have a lot of work to do, so let's get on with it."

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