Colorado scholarships: Free money for students

CWEF's mission is to invest in women who are transforming their lives through education for themselves, their families, and their communities. Applicants must be a resident of Colorado or reside in Colorado while earning their certification or degree. Applicants must have enrolled in or already attending an accredited educational institution of higher learning or vocational training (earning a certification, or associates, bachelor's, master's, or doctorate degree). Eligible applicants will need to demonstrate financial need, academic ability, leadership skills, career goals, and community involvement. A resume is highly recommended, but not required. Applicants must submit two recommendations from two individuals, they must be unrelated to the applicants (not family). Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Winifred R. Reynolds Education Scholarship supports students pursuing master's or doctorate degrees focused on early childhood education (ECE), Child Development, or an equivalent field with coursework focused specifically on ECE. Applicants must be a current resident of Colorado or have been a resident of Colorado or California for at least 2 years before the start of the upcoming academic year. Students who are just starting their graduate work should have a strong undergraduate academic record. Renewal is not automatic for this award, however, previous recipients are encouraged to re-apply for consideration. An individual can receive a scholarship from this fund for a maximum of three years. Applicants must submit two essays and one academic or personal reference. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Daniels Scholarship Program helps make college possible for motivated and ambitious students. Daniels Scholars are selected because they embody the criteria Bill Daniels defined for the program: strength of character; leadership potential; commitment to serving their communities; academic performance or promise; well-rounded personality; and emotional maturity and stability. Applicants must be a graduating high school senior; earn a minimum SAT Math score of 490 and a minimum Evidence-Based Reading and Writing score of 490, or a minimum ACT score of 18 in each category (writing score not required); and meet the financial need requirements. Daniels Scholars may attend any two-year or four-year, nonprofit, accredited college or university in the United States. Scholars must intend to complete a bachelor's degree, and those starting at a two-year college must be on a path to earning a bachelor's degree. Daniels Scholarships may not be used at technical or trade schools, or for participation in certificate programs. The Daniels Scholarship, along with generous contributions from partner schools, covers the full cost of attendance (COA) at partner schools within Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. Scholars that choose to attend a school outside our 4-state region receive up to $25,000 a year for qualified educational expenses. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Boettcher Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship for Colorado high school seniors that is awarded in partnership with our state's four year, nonprofit institutions of higher education. At Boettcher we define merit to mean superior scholastic ability/intellectual curiosity, leadership, service, character, and more. The comprehensive scholarship program has two models: Cost of Attendance and Tuition and Fees. Students are eligible to apply if they are a graduating Colorado high school senior who has lived in Colorado for their full junior and senior years of high school. They must apply during the fall of what is their final year of high school, even if they are considering taking a gap year after graduation. Applicants must also be a citizen, legal permanent resident, or lawfully present (including through Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in the United States or meet the requirements and have applied or started the process of applying for citizenship, legal status or lawful presence. Scholars may receive the scholarship for four years. Semifinalists are required to submit two letters of recommendation. Finalists will be notified via email and will be interviewed in March. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The Virginia Leyda Roberts Nursing Scholarship will be awarded to a high school senior or undergraduate student who has been accepted or is currently enrolled in a nursing school for an Associate's or Bachelor's nursing degree. Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and a resident of the State of Colorado and attend an accredited college or university in the United States. Applicants do not need to be members of the DAR. All awards are judged based on academic excellence, commitment to the field of study (as required), and financial need by a committee of judges outside the NSDAR. Applicants must submit letters of recommendation, a maximum of two, from high school or college or employers who are familiar with the applicant's work. The letter should cover the applicant's ability, work habits, integrity, character, potential. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

Since 1939, the Denver Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., has awarded collegiate scholarships to deserving African American women. Our scholarship awards continue the legacy of our Founders in supporting African American women in their pursuit of a college education. Scholarships are awarded to students who seek to attend a 4-year university as well as community colleges or trade schools. The Irma Hudson Memorial Scholarship was named in honor of the founder. Applicants must be a resident of the Denver metropolitan area. They must also be a high school graduate, graduating senior from high school, or have earned a GED. Applicants must not be a daughter of a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Please visit the scholarship's website for more information.

The St. Vrain Nursing Scholarship supports undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a nursing degree or subspecialty at an accredited U.S. institution. Applicants must either be graduates of a St. Vrain Valley High School or current residents of the St. Vrain Valley School District and must demonstrate unmet financial need through a financial aid package letter. Scholarship funds may be applied toward tuition, housing, or clinical expenses directly related to the student's nursing education. Established to advance nursing careers, the scholarship reflects a commitment to supporting local students in the healthcare field.

The Beta Iota Chapter Scholarship will be awarded to (1) a Beta Iota initiate or affiliate who is a current undergraduate member of Beta Iota at the University of Colorado, or a Beta Iota alumna who is pursuing a graduate degree. (2) If no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate Beta Iota initiate. (3) If no applicants meet the first or second criteria, the scholarship will be awarded to any Theta collegian or alumna with a permanent address in the state of Colorado who will pursue an undergraduate or graduate degree during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. (4) If no applicants meet the first to third criteria, the scholarship will be awarded to any member of the Fraternity. Applicants must provide the contact information of their reference, who should be their current or former supervisor or mentor in an academic, community, professional, and/or Theta-related capacity. Ideally, the reference should be able to compellingly speak to the applicant's commitment to Kappa Alpha Theta's values; able to clearly articulate specific details about the applicant's accomplishments, goals, and character; and be more than just the applicant's social contact. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.

The Kathleen Markey and Kenneth Niejadlik, MD Scholarship shall be awarded to (1) collegian or alumnae members of the Chi-Syracuse, Beta Iota-Colorado, or Zeta Chi-Johns Hopkins Chapters (listed in order of preference) of Kappa Alpha Theta who will pursue undergraduate or graduate study during the academic year for which the scholarship is awarded. (2) Should no applicants meet the first criteria, the scholarship shall be held and added to the next year's award. (3) In the event Chi, Beta Iota, or Zeta Chi is disestablished and ceases to exist, unless and until the chapter is reestablished, the scholarship shall be awarded according to the first and second criteria (in order of preference). (4) In the event Chi, Beta Iota, and Zeta Chi are all disestablished, the scholarship shall be awarded to a collegian or alumna member with a permanent address in the states of New York, Wyoming, Colorado, New Jersey, or Florida (listed in order of preference) who is qualified under the Foundation's then current general scholarship criteria. Should no member with a permanent address in those states qualify, the scholarship shall be awarded to any collegian or alumna member of the Fraternity who is qualified under the Foundation's then current general scholarship criteria. Applicants must provide the contact information of their reference, who should be their current or former supervisor or mentor in an academic, community, professional, and/or Theta-related capacity. Ideally, the reference should be able to compellingly speak to the applicant's commitment to Kappa Alpha Theta's values; able to clearly articulate specific details about the applicant's accomplishments, goals, and character; and be more than just the applicant's social contact. Please visit the scholarship's website or contact the Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation for more information.