Celebrating Our First Scholarship Awardees: Honoring Stories That Shape Dublin

This spring, the Dublin Historical Society proudly awarded its inaugural student scholarships to two exceptional seniors from Dublin High School: one recipient of the Claudia McCormick Scholarship and one recipient of the Ron Satterthwaite Scholarship.

These awards are more than a recognition of academic achievement—they’re a celebration of story. When we launched this scholarship, we made a conscious decision to look beyond GPA and extracurriculars. We wanted to hear from students not only about who they are and what they’ve accomplished, but how they and their families came to call Dublin home. We wanted to learn from their lived experience—what Dublin means to them, and how they see themselves as part of its evolving history.

The responses we received were profound.

One student shared a striking reflection on place and perspective:

“Hiking the trails near the Dublin hills, I found a kind of perspective that I hadn’t realized I was missing. From the top, I saw the whole of Dublin cradled in the valley. I thought of those who must have stood there before me—natives, settlers, hikers, wanderers—and I felt, for a brief moment, part of a longer chain. The mountains became more than just a backdrop; they were a witness... I’ve begun to understand that even here, in the suburban quiet, decisions are made that shape the lives of many. That even here, history is being written.”

Another student wrote a beautifully personal reflection on growing up in Dublin:

“I’ve lived in Dublin since I was about six months old in the same house, with the same rosebushes and the same trees and the same driveway... Dublin is our home. I’ve grown alongside my city. I’ve seen it turn from something small to an expansive place that is a beautiful tapestry of people and landmarks and businesses... I love Dublin with my whole heart. It is my home and my city and I don’t think that I’ll ever see anywhere else as home quite as much as Dublin. Dublin holds my roots, holds parts of me in the library and in its schools and in its green hills. The sidewalks carry stains from my bloodied knees when I fell off my bike, the community pool still holds my wet footprints on its concrete deck, the bird’s nests are still woven with the yarn scraps from my crochet projects. I am a part of Dublin as much as it is a part of me, and that is something that I will never want to change.”

As the Dublin Historical Society, our mission is to preserve, share, and honor the history of our city—but that history is not static. It’s being written every day by residents like these students. Their reflections remind us that the history of Dublin is not just what came before—it’s what’s happening now, and what is still to come.

We are honored to recognize these young storytellers, and we look forward to continuing this scholarship program in the years ahead—expanding opportunities, increasing award levels, and continuing to send a clear message to our students: you are seen, you are valued, and you are part of the story of Dublin.

Congratulations to our 2025 recipients. Thank you for sharing your history with us.