Burns race raises scholarship money Saturday

Stacy Brown

CORONA del MAR-- A race to honor former Newport Beach lifeguard and

teacher Don Burns is scheduled Saturday at Corona del Mar State Beach.

When he died in 1994, Burns -- a noted perfectionist -- left behind a

legacy that moved The Newport Beach Lifeguard Association to honor him

with a race and scholarship.

The one-mile swimming race for lifeguards and former lifeguards will

help raise money for college scholarships to be awarded to lifeguards who

exemplify the traits of Burns.

The Don Burns Scholarship was created shortly after his death. Jim

Turner, who helped organize the second annual race, said two of Burns’

greatest passions were lifeguarding and education.

From 1947 to 1992, Burns worked as a lifeguard and taught in the

Newport-Mesa School District. Turner said when the scholarship was

originally developed, the selection criteria were based on people’s

personal experience of Burns, who had a great impact in the community.

Applicants for the scholarship were asked to write about what

qualities they felt they possessed that best emulated the way Burns lived

his life.

Turner said with the passage of time, there are new generations of

lifeguards who were unable to meet and know Burns so the standards used

to judge applicants and award the $500 scholarships have changed.

To be eligible for the Burns Lifeguard Scholarship, an applicant must

be an active member of Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard; must be enrolled in

an academic course of study at an accredited university, college or

community college; and must write an essay describing why the applicant

should be considered.

The race is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and participants are asked

to register by 9:15 a.m. at Lifeguard Tower No. 3, next to the jetty.