Students look at scholarship information in the Future Center during a school day at Manual High School in 2011. The Future Centers are operated by the Denver Scholarship Foundation. (AAron Ontiveroz, The Denver Post)
Nine schools, foundations and counties were approved in the latest round of grant awards for a total of $1.9 million in state funds to match local scholarships.
In this second round of awards from the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative — an effort by the Colorado Department of Higher Education to help leverage local dollars for scholarships — Denver received an award by partnering with .
The $579,965 award for Denver scholarships has to be matched and administered by the foundation.
Voters in November turned down through an increase in sales taxes.
Lance Hostetter, a spokesman for DSF said the grant money will be used to help increase the dollar amount for the scholarships Denver students receive, but said knowing by how much would depend on how many students apply, and qualify. The money will not expand the program, he said.
The foundation provides scholarships for students who have studied and graduated from Denver Public Schools, and who meet other criteria such as having a minimum grade point average, and filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid form, known as FAFSA.
Through partnerships with the counties, institutions, and business, we re able to stretch state resources as far as possible to help as many students as possible,” said Jay Hardy, chair of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative board in a news release.
An award was also made for Weld County. that will provide property tax rebates in exchange for donations for the scholarships.
Here is a list of all the recipients and award amounts:
ï · Aims Community College – $43,329
ï · Colorado Mesa University on behalf of Mesa County – $145,062
ï · Colorado Mesa University on behalf of Montrose County – $50,968
ï · Colorado Mountain College on behalf of Eagle, Lake, Routt, and Summit Counties – $77,559
ï · Denver Scholarship Foundation on behalf of Denver City and County – $579,965
ï · Lamar Community College on behalf of Bent County – $8,463
ï · University of Colorado at Colorado Springs – $62,183
ï · University of Colorado Foundation on behalf of El Paso County – $688,361
ï · Weld County – $259,869
Read about the first round of awards here: First round of grants approved for local scholarships across Colorado
