GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) -National College Decision Day is May 1. To celebrate, Colorado Mesa University went around District 51 schools spreading Maverick spirit.
Something else they did was invest in D51 students. CMU awarded a combined $10.7 million in scholarships to around 380 graduates from five District 51 schools. Fruita Monument High School students were awarded a little over $4 million, Grand Junction High School students got about $3 million, Palisade High School students were given around $2.3 million, Central High School students received close to $950 thousand, and Caprock Academy students were give a little over $400 thousand.
“It’s hard for me to express how excited our students are when they see that this scholarship is allowing them to take that next step that wouldn’t otherwise be possible without it being there. So that’s really exciting for us, and it sends a message to our students that if they work hard and if they commit themselves and if they have great habits, that anything is possible,” said Jory Sorensen, the Principal for Grand Junction High School.
One of the goals of the scholarships is to make college more available and affordable for local students. “One of the most important things, and one of our promises, is to be radically affordable and higher education becomes incredibly more potent when students leave without crushing debt. And so, for us, we want to ensure that students who are coming through CMU now that we have the opportunity to change their life through education, but also don’t leave there with incredible debt,” said Dr. Roberto Montoya, the Vice President of Student Services for CMU.
“It seems like one of the most logical things to do is to invest in our youth. Our future is industrially bound to their success. They’re brilliant, they’re talented, they’re capable, and the very least that we can do is invest in that and nurture that and make sure that they have everything they need to be successful,” said Dr. Montoya.
However, the money doesn’t just help the students. It also benefits the local community. “It’s our investment in the Grand Valley. To us, the most valuable resource we have is our young people and for us, in order to invest in them again, through an opportunity for a better life is through higher education. And that’s our commitment to the valley,” said Dr. Montoya.
To learn more about these scholarships, click here.
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