Kim Coddington Memorial Scholarship
In April 1977, just one month before graduation, a terrible automobile accident occurred on Highway 101 just south of Camarillo that took the life of one of CLC’s finest students, Kim Coddington. A 21-yr-old senior majoring in physical education, Kim was remarkable in that he was good at many things but was celebrated mostly for his caring and loving ways. Memorial gifts flooded in from across the country, each with a note acknowledging Kim’s kind-hearted ways.After Kim’s death, CLC president Mark Mathews, a tennis buff himself, expressed to Kim’s parents both his sympathy and his admiration for their son’s life. He saw Kim as a shining example of an outstanding student—engaged in his academic programs but also developing his innate physical abilities. Kim was involved in tennis, track and wrestling, and also served as a gymnastics coach. He had been the heart of CLC’s wrestling program, praised by wrestling coach Buck Deadrich for the personal effect he had on other students. Kim had hoped to become a teacher of physical education or a physical therapist—or both!
Because of Kim’s academic achievements as a student, the University awarded his baccalaureate degree posthumously in May 1977. One can only imagine how meaningful that was to his parents, Ken and Marge Coddington. As long-time residents of Thousand Oaks they redoubled their efforts on behalf of their son’s alma mater. A memorial fund was established, knowledge of which reached across the country to the family’s friends and relatives. Response was immediate, and in no time the scholarship was officially under way.
The Kim Coddington Memorial Scholarship was first awarded in 1980 with these words chosen by his parents: “To reflect Kim’s commitment to the development of each person’s body, mind and spirit.” The recipient is to be a sophomore or above who is planning to teach physical education or become a physical therapist. The Coddingtons knew that their son would have appreciated that requirement for the scholarship that now bears his name.