Time and time again, we hear scholarships are one of the biggest factors in recruiting and retaining talented students. As the cost of living and expectations for education students continue to increase, scholarships are needed now more than ever to support promising and passionate students and future teachers. In their own words, here are what just a few thoughtfully crafted scholarships have meant to current students and new graduates receiving scholarship support.
The Hubert L. Hooks Jones Chapter Tuskegee Airmen Scholarship was established by the Hubert L. “Hooks” Jones Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc. with the CU Boulder School of Education to support education students who are inspired to continue the Tuskegee Airmen legacy. In honor of the African-American men and women who served our country with distinction during World War II, this scholarship supports students who aspire to work in and teach students from underrepresented communities.
“Receiving this scholarship was a great honor, as it represented everything that I have stood for. Growing up in a community that is highly diverse, with people from many different types of underrepresented communities, has greatly influenced me and inspired me to create a change. With the help of this scholarship and its mission, I have been able to broaden my knowledge of the inequities in society, empowered students to challenge the education system and learned about how we can implement that into everyday lessons through different courses and practicums.”
—Angelica Gutierrez, inaugural Tuskegee Scholarship recipient and sophomore studying elementary education
The Zola Family Scholarship for Social Studies Teachers was formed in 2007 by John and Jaye Zola, both longtime teachers and former secondary social studies instructors in the School of Education. The scholarship aims to support secondary social studies teacher candidates who will teach in ways that support civic-mindedness, democratic participation, social justice and a commitment to valuing diversity.
“Boulder is an expensive place to live, and because student teaching is so much work and doesn’t pay, it can be really hard to make ends meet. The Zola Scholarship really was a huge help for me, and it helped prevent me from going into too much debt. Moreover, at the scholarship ceremony, I met the Zolas, and they are great people and former teachers. John Zola pointed me toward his website to draw on when I needed resources. It turned out to be a great resource for lessons and lesson ideas.”
—Ben Ortiz, Zola Scholarship recipient, master’s plus social studies licensure graduate and 2019 graduation speaker
The David and Margaret Grohne Scholarship supports full tuition for out-of-state students. Both alumni, the Grohnes came to CU Boulder as out-of-state students from Illinois and so valued their CU Boulder experience that they established two scholarships for students in their majors, engineering and education. Scholarship students have volunteer experience and leadership potential, and aim to become teachers.
“I’ve always felt like I would probably have to stay in Missouri for college, and as great as schools in Missouri are, I really wanted to leave the Midwest. I applied to Boulder simply to feel like it was even a little bit possible for me to attend my ‘dream school,’ despite knowing that the out-of-state tuition was very high. I’ve always been drawn to CU Boulder because of the level of academics, beautiful campus and the campus life. This is why, when I received the David & Margaret Grohne scholarship, my decision to study education at CU Boulder became much easier to make.”
—Axel Duran, a Grohne Scholarship recipient and an incoming first-year student studying elementary education