CSU-Pueblo Foundation Awards Record Number of Scholarships

PUEBLO - The Colorado State University-Pueblo Foundation awarded $2.5 million totaling more than 900 individual scholarship awards to CSU-Pueblo students for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Every year since the launch of the On the Move campaign, the CSU-Pueblo Foundation has increased the funding awarded to CSU-Pueblo student scholarships. In 2013, the Foundation awarded $1.18 million in scholarships. In 2014, the Foundation increased scholarship awards to $1.53 million, and then again to $1.68 million in 2015. The CSU-Pueblo Foundation has continued this trend for fiscal year 2016, awarding a record-breaking $2.5 million to deserving CSU-Pueblo students in scholarships alone.

The ambitious three-year On the Move campaign's primary goal was to increase scholarship dollars for CSU-Pueblo students with $15 million of the $25 million campaign goal designated to fund student scholarships.

"With the outpouring of support to the On the Move campaign, we were able to grant more than 900 scholarship awards to worthy CSU-Pueblo students for the 2015-16 academic year," said CSU-Pueblo Foundation CEO/President, Todd Kelly. "Through support to the On the Move campaign, the CSU-Pueblo Foundation has continually increased the scholarship funding and amount of students awarded every year. Education is key to a thriving community and society. The impact of private support for student scholarships allows us to provide sustainable financial funding and elevate offerings to our students."

With an increase in scholarships comes an increase in scholarship application submittals from highly qualified students. Each year of the On the Move campaign, the number of students completing the CSU-Pueblo Foundation Scholarship Application has grown. This year 1,323 students completed the CSU-Pueblo Foundation Scholarship Application and of the 1,323 applicants, 1,127 of them hold a B or higher grade point average boasting an impressive 85 percent 3.0 or higher GPA.

Kelly said the private support allows the Foundation to fund many awards, however, many students still do not receive awards for excelling in academics, athletics, or other talents.

"Unfortunately, we are unable to provide scholarships to every deserving student," said Kelly. "Scholarships breakdown financial barriers that can prevent a student from achieving their educational goals; but with continued help from University supporters, alumni, and the community, we hope to be able to award all applicants one day," said Kelly.

A sample of the diverse students who have benefitted from private scholarships offered from the CSU-Pueblo Foundation include:

• Genesis Enriquez-Moncada, an economics major, and Mexico native, who received both the Pueblo Poverty Foundation Scholarship and the Helen M. McLoraine Scholarship. With these scholarships he hopes to attain a college degree so he can find a career and be financially stable to give back to those in need.
• Jamie Wells, a senior nursing major was awarded the Carpet Direct Scholarship and James R. Wood Memorial Scholarship. Boasting an impressive 3.8 GPA, these scholarships will help fund her last year of college. Set on helping others, Wells plans to enter the nursing field upon graduation.
• Roderick Reed, a mass communications major received the Boettcher Opportunity Award from CSU-Pueblo. Reed aims to graduate from CSU-Pueblo and enter the marketing field with hopes to develop educational documentaries of Colorado.
• Sarah Thompson, a biology pre-medical major in the Honor's Program holds a notable 3.93 GPA. Thompson is a prestigious Kane Family Foundation Scholarship recipient; with her degree she aspires to become a doctor. She wants to find cures for terminal diseases and develop treatments to cure fatal diseases.

Anyone wishing to support CSU-Pueblo student scholarships are invited to donate online at www.thundergive.org or by texting PACK to 80888 to donate $10.

For more information, please contact CSU-Pueblo Foundation Annual Giving and Stewardship Manager, Sammi Mutz, at 719.549.2469 or sammi.mutz@csupueblo.edu.

Colorado State University - Pueblo is a regional, comprehensive university emphasizing professional, career-oriented, and applied programs. Displaying excellence in teaching, celebrating diversity, and engaging in service and outreach, CSU-Pueblo is distinguished by access, opportunity, and the overall quality of services provided to its students.