Scholarships

Taos Community Foundation is offering a premier scholarship award to High School Graduates from Taos County wishing to pursue advancement of higher education. This scholarship is to enable a student as a first- generation learner in their family to seek higher education.

The First Generation College Scholarship is a comprehensive college scholarship that pays towards the costs of tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies. It is a supplemental or last dollar scholarship and therefore secondary to all other grants /scholarships awarded to the scholar. After considering the student’s other community or academic institutional awards, the First Generation Scholarship Fund will pay toward the remaining costs of the scholar’s education. The amount of the scholarship is unique to each scholar and can vary from year to year, and could be up to an annual award of $15,000.00 per year for 4 years.

This is a 4 year award provided a 3.0 GPA is maintained during the award period and that all required paperwork is submitted in accordance with the Scholarship Agreement that will be presented at the time of selection.

PLEASE NOTE – This Scholarship Award is only for attendance at a New Mexico University, specifically:

• Eastern New Mexico University
• New Mexico State University
• New Mexico Highlands University
• University of New Mexico-Main Campus
• New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
• Western New Mexico University

This scholarship also allows for students to enroll at a University that is part of the Western Undergraduate Exchange (WUE), as administered by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (www.wiche.edu). This regional tuition-reciprocity agreement enables students from WICHE states to enroll in some 145 participating public institutions at 150 percent of the enrolling institution’s resident tuition.

Eligibility Criteria:

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee through application/essay materials.

• High School GPA of 3.0 or higher
• Achievement – academic and personal
• Demonstration of a robust High School academic transcript
• Community service/involvement
• Motivation for continued learning and academic advancement
• Personal character and drive

Scholars may also be asked to participate in an interview. Interviews will be held virtually.

Essay Questions (subject to change):

Please submit a one page personal essay. The essay is intended to be an open, reflective essay where you can tell us about yourself.

Topics may include:

• What life experiences have shaped who you are today?
• What are two of your character strengths and how do these strengths connect to your overall goals?
• What are your aspirations and how will furthering your education help you accomplish your goals?

The Beatrice T. Gutierrez and Virgil D. Gutierrez Legacy Scholarship was established in 2018 by the children of Beatrice and Virgil Gutierrez. Mr. and Mrs. Gutierrez devoted their lives to teaching in Taos Public Schools.

The scholarship will be available to seniors graduating from High Schools in Taos County, with a preference to those students who intend to pursue studies in mathematics, education or science (including but not limited to social, biological and environmental sciences) by attending a 4 year college or university with an overall goal of providing service to their family and/or community upon graduation. The 4 year institution award is up to $14,000, paid out across 4 years if a 3.0 GPA is maintained.

The scholarship will also be available to seniors graduating from High Schools in Taos County, with a preference to those students who intend to pursue a 2-year vocational program with an overall goal of providing service to their family and/or community upon graduation. The 2 year institution award is up to $4,000, paid out across 2 years.

Eligibility Criteria:

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee through application/essay materials:

• Motivation of the applicant to make the world a better place, and how to accomplish this.
• Character
• Community service/involvement
• Achievement – academic or otherwise
• Personal growth
• Unique life experiences

Essay Questions (subject to change):

Please answer two out of the three essay prompts that follow:

1. In one page or less, please describe an experience where something you planned did not go as you expected. What did you learn from the unexpected outcome?

2. In one page or less, please describe what values inform your current and future interests and how might these values impact your future studies?

3. In one page or less, please describe how living in Northern New Mexico has informed your perspective on the meaning of community and how will this impact your future studies?

The Manuel & Fillie Garcia Hispanic Scholarship was established as a permanent fund of Taos Community Foundation in 2011.

The award is available to graduating seniors in Taos and western Colfax counties with preference to Hispanic students pursuing advancement of higher education. The scholarship is available to those applying to 4 year colleges and universities as well as 2 year vocational/trade schools.

The award amount will be determined at the time of committee review. This award is typically renewable for up to three years if a 2.5 GPA is maintained and all required paperwork is returned in accordance with the Scholarship Agreement.

Eligibility Criteria:

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee through application/essay materials:

• Achievement – academic or other
• Community service/involvement
• Motivation
• Character
• Obstacles overcome
• Unconventional/unique life experiences

Essay Questions:
 
1. What does your Hispanic heritage mean to you?

2. Please submit your one-page personal essay. Applicants are encouraged to focus on the following: Achievement, community service, motivation, character, obstacles overcome, or unconventional/unique life experiences.

The Taos Diplomats Scholarship was first established in 2015 by Peter Winter (Taos High ’04) and Dori Winter, who have served as Foreign Service Officers with the U.S. Department of State. During college at the University of Southern California, Peter studied International Relations and Mandarin Chinese, later studying abroad in Beijing, China. Dori, a graduate of the University of South Carolina and Texas A&M University, studied in China and France. Both have represented the United States government at embassies and consulates around the world, including assignments in Northern Ireland, Egypt, Pakistan, China, Israel, and Saudi Arabia.

This award is open to graduating High School Seniors from Taos County (GPA of 3.0 or above) who are interested in pursuing a degree in fields such as international affairs, political science, public and government policy, global communications, international education and development, global health, international business, and foreign languages or studying abroad. This scholarship is open to those applying to 4 year colleges and universities as well as 2 year vocational/trade schools. The award ranges from $250.00 to $1,000.00 and is paid directly to the student’s account at the college or university attended.

Eligibility Criteria:

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee through the application materials:

• Achievement – academic or other
• Community service/involvement
• Motivation to bring the spirit of Taos wherever life takes you
• Character

Essay Questions:

Please submit your responses to the prompts below as either an essay, or a photo collection with explanations. You may select Option 1 OR Option 2

Option 1:

Respond to the prompts below:
Photo collection and explanation–Please answer both parts a) and b):
Submit at least 10 photographs and written explanations of how the photos answer the following questions:

a) How do you envision yourself representing the “spirit” of Taos wherever and whenever you travel?

b) How will you use this scholarship award to learn about the world?

Option 2:

Respond to the prompts below. 

Essay– We often think of diplomats as government officials who represent our country; however, regular citizens also represent the U.S when they travel, both domestic and abroad. Please answer both parts a) and b):

a) How do you envision yourself representing the “spirit” of Taos wherever and whenever you travel?

b) How will you use this scholarship award to learn about the world?

The Edgar F. Meyer Scholarship was established in 2022 by his family. Edgar F. Meyer was a distinguished biochemist, creative scientist and passionate educator who died in 2015. This scholarship is awarded in E.F. Meyer’s memory to students who are planning to study and build a career in the fields of healthcare and /or education and who show creativity, drive, and the ability to overcome hardship in pursuing their dreams.

The scholarship will be available to seniors graduating from Taos County High Schools who plan to pursue advanced studies by attending a 4 year college or university. The Scholarship will also consider those applying to 2 year vocational or trade schools. The award is up to $4,000 paid out at $1,000 per year for up to 4 years for those students attending a 4 year institution or up to $2,000 paid out at $1,000 per year for 2 years for those students attending a 2 year institution if a 2.5 GPA is maintained and all other requirements are met.

Eligibility Criteria:

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee through application/essay materials:

• Achievement
• Character including Curiosity, Creativity and Drive
• Hardships overcome in life or in general.
• Unique life experiences.

Essay Questions:

1. How would this award make a difference towards pursuing your goals? (500 words or less)

2. What drives you? What are you passionate about? (300 words or less)

The Friedman Family Scholarship was established in 1998. The award is available to graduating seniors in Taos and western Colfax counties for students pursuing advancement of higher education. The scholarship is available to those applying to 4 year colleges and universities as well as 2 year vocational/trade schools. The award is up to $ 8,000.00 paid out at $2,000 annually for up to four years if a 3.0 GPA is maintained.

Eligibility Criteria:

Applicant or applicant’s parent, guardian or close relative must have worked at the Taos Ski Valley for at least one season. This includes any position that is geographically within Taos Ski Valley.

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee:

• Achievement – academic or other
• Community service/involvement
• Motivation
• Character
• Obstacles overcome
• Unconventional/unique life experiences

Essay Questions: 

Please submit your 1 page personal essay explaining why you believe you are a good candidate for this scholarship.

The Claud N. Hyatt Scholarship was established in 2023 as a permanent fund of Taos Community Foundation. Mr. Hyatt started his teaching career in 1964, and dedicated his entire career to teaching history at Clayton High School. His desire to give back to the Clayton community has made this scholarship possible. The award is available to graduating seniors of Clayton High School who are pursuing advancement of higher education beyond high school. The scholarship is available to those applying to 2 or 4 year colleges and universities as well as vocational / trade schools. Award amounts will be determined at the time of committee review and will be within the range of $2,000 and $8,000. The awards will be paid out in annual installments for up to four years for those students attending a 4 year institution, 2 years for those students attending a 2 year institution, or per unit for certificate programs. Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be enrolled as a full time student to continue eligibility for the scholarship.

Eligibility Criteria:

The following will be assessed by the scholarship committee through the application, taking into consideration the following:

Achievement – academic or other
Community service / involvement
Motivation
Character – including curiosity, creativity and drive
Unconventional / unique life experiences

Essay Questions:

1. Who is your hero and why?

2. Describe one of the major challenges you have experienced in life and what you learned from it.

3. What are you most proud of in your life?

4. What to you is most important in life and how will you foster this in others?