Thanks to the Daniels Fund Scholarship, four seniors from Cortez and Mancos high schools are on track to become a pharmacist, an engineer, a nurse, and an anesthesiologist.
Montezuma-Cortez high school students Kaleb Lancaster-Milligan and Elizabeth Wilson, and Mancos high school students Maya Bonde and Jayden Peacock were awarded the full-ride scholarships.
During a visit to the Cortez Journal office, the young adults were brimming with excitement and hope for the future.
Milligan plans to study mechanical engineering at the University of Arizona, in Tucson. He will be a first-generation college student.
“I felt like my odds were not good because I struggled in class at first, and college is so expensive,” he said. “But thanks to my teachers helping me to motivate and work hard, I came out ahead. I’m very grateful for the scholarship and glad I learned to tough it out when school became more difficult.”
Wilson plans to study pharmacy at Regis University in Denver. She credits her parents for supporting her education, and said the scholarship is key for pursuing her career dreams.
“It’s amazing; I could not have afforded college without it. Now I won’t graduate in debt, so that is a good feeling,” Wilson said. “I worked hard to get here, and I know there is a lot more challenging work to come with all of the science and chemistry classes.”
Peacock, a member of the Seneca-Cayuga tribe, will be going to the University of Colorado to enroll in the pre-med program. He plans to seek a bachelor’s degree in integrated physiology, and then go on to medical school to become an anesthesiologist.
“It was a ton of work to get where I am,” he said. “I kept at it and had great support from my family, teachers and counselors.
“A key to my success has been others taking time to help me. I learned that lesson of setting a good example, and now I look for those around me who need guidance toward success, or just need a friend.”
Bonde plans to enroll in nursing school at the University of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff.
“It’s hard to describe how excited I am to be chosen for this scholarship,” she said. “I think they noticed my level of commitment.”
In addition to her school work, Bonde is a member of the Mancos Fire Department, and participates in internships at Southwest Memorial Hospital.
She plans to become a flight nurse, a career choice that combines her love of excitement with a desire to help others.
“I like the rush of helping people in extreme need. It is very rewarding,” Bonde said. “I recommend this scholarship for anyone who is driven, and wants to make a difference.”
The founder of the scholarship, Bill Daniels, was an entrepreneur and pioneer in the cable television business. His organization pays college costs for those in financial need in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah.
This year, 239 students were chosen for the scholarship out of 2,000 applicants. To date, the Daniels scholarship program has provided more than $108.5 million in undergraduate scholarships to more than 3,000 students.
For more information go to http://www.danielsfund.org/home.asp
jmimiaga@cortezjournal.com