by Nick Ragusano

With his father in attendance at the June 12, 2011,

family  potluck, the Amador County Council 1849, Knights of Columbus, presented its fourth annual scholarship award to Luke Outland, graduate of Amador High School’s Class of 2011.

Born on March 2, 1993, in San Andreas, Luke Outland became the second child and second son of Rose and Mark Outland.  He also has a younger sister, Lydia.

Home-schooled by his parents through the eighth grade, Luke has an education that is outstanding as both parents are credentialed teachers.  Mark, his father, is currently a special education teacher at Calaveras High School in San Andreas.

Luke says his “field trips” took him to fascinating sites all over the state and country, allowing him to “see and experience places that most of my peers only read about.”  He even was able to take several classes from the local junior college before entering the junior high school levels.

During the past four years, Luke attended Amador High School, graduating in the top ten percent of his class.  His SAT score of 2060 is a testament to his seriousness as a student and reaching his goals in education.

    Over his lifetime, Luke has already had a multitude of experiences, becoming

an Eagle Scout and representing Amador High School at the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, DC, and Golden Boys’ State in Sacramento.

  “These are highly respected summer programs that focus on developing leadership skills and teaching about federal and state governmental processes,” wrote Luke in his notes for the Amador Knights.

Luke has been accepted into the University of Santa Barbara where, although he has not yet declared his major, he plans on pursuing an education in the social sciences.  His career interests “currently tend to be in the direction of federal law enforcement and investigation or national intelligence agency,” he says.

“Although I am not quite sure which specific path I will ultimately choose,” writes Luke, “I know that my college experience and exposure to a wide variety of classes will assist me in determining my final course.”

Included in his plans are study abroad and gaining fluency in a foreign language as well as learning more about other cultures.  “After living my entire life in Amador County, I hope to expand my knowledge base and my horizons.”

Luke has been an active participant in the youth activities in the Amador Catholic Community.  He has served in many positions, including lecture, and reader at Our Lady of the Pines Church in Pioneer.  As an active participant in the Amador Catholic Teens, he went on its missions over the course of several summers.

Community service has been in the forefront of Luke’s experiences.  In his application for this year’s scholarship he asserted his opinion on the need for community service and his intention to lead through service.

As one of the guiding principles in the Knights of Columbus, charity, that devotion and commitment to service became one of the features of Luke’s life that led to his being chosen this year’s recipient of the Amador County Council, 1849, Knights of Columbus annual $1,000 scholarship.