2013 APS Seniors Head to College with Scholarships

Scarlett Jimenez

Aurora Public Schools high school seniors are raking in many scholarships and other financial awards to assist with paying for college. Here are some of the highlights of the class of 2013 scholarship recipients:

• Hinkley High School senior Scarlett Jimenez  earned a 2013 Boettcher Foundation Scholarship, a "full-ride” merit-based financial award to attend any college or university in Colorado. More than 1,300 students apply each year. She is one of 40 statewide to receive the scholarship. Jimenez, who attended Elkhart Elementary School and East Middle School, is currently Hinkley's Student Council and National Honor Society President. Upon graduation, she plans to pursue a degree in political science at the University of Denver. 

• Eleven APS students earned the Daniels Fund and Gates Millennium scholarships. The Daniels Fund selects high school seniors who have demonstrated strong character and a determination to succeed in life. The scholarship covers all required tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and a variety of other miscellaneous expenses. The Gates Millennium Scholarship recognizes students with outstanding academic performance. It covers unmet financial need to attend any college or university. To see a list of the winners, click here.

• Thong Phong, third from l

  Four Aurora Public Schools students are recipients of the Comcast Foundation’s 2013-14 Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Michael Brungardt of Hinkley High School, Jonathan Delgado of Aurora Central High School, T'Hani Holt of William Smith High School, and Jasmine Koch of Rangeview High School. These students will receive their scholarship awards this summer as they prepare to begin college in the fall. The Comcast Leaders and Achievers® Scholarship Program provides $1,000 scholarships to students who strive to achieve their potential, are catalysts for positive change in their communities, are involved in their schools, and who serve as models for their fellow students.

• The Better Business Bureau recognized Hinkley High School senior Thong Phung for his outstanding character and high ethical standards, awarding him a $10,000 Student of Integrity Scholarship. The annual scholarship program recognizes and promotes ethics and integrity among young people. The BBB awards scholarships to graduating high school seniors who personify all of the best aspects of high character in their personal choices and actions.
   

• Diego Aguilar Lupan, left, and Erna Lukac

  The Aurora Public Schools Education Foundation awards five $4,000 scholarships to one student at each APS high school. The scholarship is funded by the “Paving the Way to Success” campaign. The APS community members purchase engraved bricks and glass wall panels at the Professional 
  Learning and Conference Center to raise funds for the scholarships. Congratulations to Jacqueline Navarez, Hinkley; Taylor Botte, William Smith; Trevor Hancock, Rangeview; Michelle McCandlish, Gateway; Erna Lukac, Aurora Central.

• The Greenhouse Scholarship program provides comprehensive personal and financial support to high-performing, under-resourced college students. Using their unique Whole Person© approach, which offers intellectual, academic, professional, and financial support, the program cultivates the next generation of community leaders. Congratulations to Aurora Central High School's Diego Aguilar Lupan and Erna Lukac

• Pickens Technical College students Joy Davidson and Roger Gresens each earned a $2,500 scholarship through the mikeroweWORKS Foundation, which partnered with Scholarship America to offer financial awards to students who are enrolled in a skilled trade program at a two-year college, vocational school or approved training institute. In addition, Davidson and Gresens were invited to appear alongside Mike Rowe
  

  Pickens Tech students Roger Grenses, left, and Joy Davidson, far right

  on the Katie Couric Show to discuss their experience with career and technical education.

**Additional college scholarships will be announced over the next few months, so please stay tuned.