Adams County Students Awarded More Than $1 Million in Scholarships

Fifty-eight Adams County high school students were awarded scholarships totaling more than $1 million on Wednesday, June 7, through the Adams County Scholarship Fund. Adams County Commissioners introduced the Scholarship Fund in 2016, in partnership with the Colorado Department of Higher Education’s Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, making this the eighth group of recipients.

"Education is the cornerstone of progress, and these scholarships play a vital role in empowering our youth to unlock their full potential," said Steve O’Dorisio, Board of County Commissioners Chair. "By investing in their education, we are investing in the future leaders and innovators of our community and beyond."

The scholarships were funded with the voter-approved three percent sales tax on retail marijuana sales in the county. In addition, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative matched the sales tax funds to increase the scholarship pool. First-generation and low-income high school seniors were among those eligible to apply for one of the scholarships.

The Board of Commissioners identified Adams County Education Consortium (ACEC) as the fiscal agent for the Adams County Scholarship Fund. ACEC works directly with county school districts or school district foundations. Those include Adams 12 Five Star Schools, Adams 14 Education Foundation, School District 27J Education Foundation, Mapleton District 1 Education Foundation, Westminster District 50 Education Foundation, Strasburg School District 31J, and Bennett School District 29J.

Adams 12 Five Star Schools

• Mansoor Akbari, $20,460 scholarship
• Brisa Arredondo, $20,460 scholarship
• Diana Cordova Mendoza, $20,460 scholarship
• Lucero Correa Michel, $20,460 scholarship
• Leia Duran, $20,460 scholarship
• Vanessa Escobar Romero, $20,460 scholarship
• Cesar Estrada Sanchez, $20,460 scholarship
• Adam Elliott, $20,460 scholarship
• Diana Felix Retana, $20,460 scholarship
• Tristen Garcia, $20,460 scholarship
• Sapph Hernandez, $20,460 scholarship
• Marian Linares Soria, $20,460 scholarship
• Hamid Mashal, $20,460 scholarship
• Khalid Mashal, $20,460 scholarship
• Rahmani Muneeburahman, $20,460 scholarship
• Omid Naseer, $20,460 scholarship
• Salman Omar, $20,460 scholarship
• Cesar Palacio Narciso, $20,460 scholarship
• Ashley Padilla Gutierrez, $20,460 scholarship
• Sameer Rahin, $20,460 scholarship
• Sikandar Shams, $20,460 scholarship
• Yaliris Torres Salgado, $20,460 scholarship
• Richael Webb, $20,460 scholarship

Adams County School District 14

• Mariah Ibarra, $14,582.77 scholarship  
• Alicia Mercado, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Omar Sandoval, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Lea Stambaugh, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Melanie Normany, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Gustavo Munoz, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Cristal Esquivel-Escobar, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Evelyn Luevano Aragones, $14,582.77 scholarship
• Yarelhy Munoz-Aranda, $14,582.77 scholarship

Mapleton Public Schools

• Leonardo Corrales, $20,000 scholarship
• Miranda Sandoval, $20,000 scholarship
• Breeze Kelly, $20,000 scholarship
• Yesenia Meraz Villalobos, $10,084 scholarship
• Tristin Astbury, $10,084 scholarship
• Angeles Guillen, $10,084 scholarship
• Yvette Cruz, $10,084 scholarship
• Eduardo Acevedo, $10,084 scholarship
• Emanuel Mendoza, $10,084 scholarship
• Luis Arevalo Martinez, $10,084 scholarship

School District 27J

• Diana Hernandez, $15,000 scholarship
• Melanie Palma Perez, $15,000 scholarship
• Dalilah Isabel De Luna, $15,000 scholarship
• Aileen Mancilla, $15,000 scholarship
• Bryan Saenz, $15,000 scholarship  

Strasburg School District 31J

• Stravis Van Ly, $15,000 scholarship

Westminster Public Schools

• Brandon Pierce, $20,000 scholarship
• Bailey Burrier, $20,000 scholarship
• Hector Guerrero, $20,000 scholarship
• Yaritza Camargo, $20,000 scholarship
• Irving Mendoza Hinojos, $20,000 scholarship
• Ashley Allen, $20,000 scholarship
• Richard Rodriguez, $20,000 scholarship
• Amy Rodriguez, $20,000 scholarship
• Khang Tran, $13,444 scholarship
• Ashley Valiente, $13,444 scholarship