Eva R. Baca Memorial Scholarship Endowment Fund Established at Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation
Release Date: March 30, 2020
PUEBLO – The family of Eva R. Baca, with the Colorado State University Pueblo Foundation, have established an endowed scholarship in memory of the popular Pueblo educator. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarship assistance to CSU Pueblo students who are Latina, single mothers pursuing a degree in education.
Mrs. Baca was an active educator in Pueblo School District No. 60—a teacher, principal, and literacy advocate as director of Chapter 1. Her work was recognized locally and nationally.
At the age of 32, and as a recently widowed mother of two, Mrs. Baca was in the first graduating class of Pueblo Junior College as it became a four-year college (Southern Colorado State College) in 1965, now CSU Pueblo. She also received a Master of Arts degree from Adams State College and an Administrative Certification from the University of Wyoming.
In 1992, the Eastwood School’s name was changed to Eva R. Baca Elementary School; an honor received after having been the principal at Eastwood School for 12 years and in recognition of her significant contributions and impact in the Eastwood community.
“Eva R. Baca served the Pueblo community in many ways over her career as an educator, touching the lives of thousands of students,” said Todd Kelly, president/CEO for the CSU Pueblo Foundation. “She is an icon in Pueblo and her legacy is carried out every day at the Eva R. Baca Elementary School and now through this scholarship.”
The daughter of Mexican immigrants, Mrs. Baca was the first in her family to attain a college degree and served as a role model and mentor for her own family in achieving success in education. “Our mother paved the way. She was relentless and unwavering in her encouragement of her children, siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren in their pursuit excellence in education. She set the bar.” said Joyce Anderson and Gilbert Baca, her children.
The Eva Baca Memorial Scholarship is both merit-based and financial-need based; students receiving this scholarship will have some form of financial need but will be required to maintain a designated minimum grade point average. The student must be a single mother, of Latina descent, enrolled as a full-time undergraduate education major permanently residing in Pueblo County.
For more information, please call Sandy Lundahl, Director of Foundation Scholarships at the CSU Pueblo Foundation, at (719) 549-2380.
