Gunnison Memorial Scholarship

Scholarships & Awards
2020 Winners

About the Scholarship

See the list of Gunnison Memorial Scholarship Winners since 1968!

If you know anyone on this list, CFGV would love to connect with all the past winners of the Memorial Scholarship and collect their stories.

Time creates traditions, and after 53 years, the Gunnison Memorial Scholarship certainly qualifies locally as a fine one. The scholarship was established in 1967 to provide financial assistance with higher education costs to Gunnison Watershed students with financial need. Throughout those years, 176 graduating seniors have received both a financial and a morale boost from the scholarship.

The Fund was established to honor the memories of Tom Williams and Sandy Zeigler, members of the GHS Class of ’67, as well as others who have been memorialized with gifts to the Fund throughout the years.

In addition to founders of the Scholarship Fund, Robert and Laura Mae Williams and Sanford and Annabel Zeigler (Tom and Sandy’s parents), other founding members represent a microcosm of community leaders at the time. Those with long roots in the Gunnison area will recognize many of the names: Harlan Bryant (WSC President); LeRoy Hipkins (RE1J Superintendent); John Towles (Gunnison Middle School Principal); Donald Peterson (Physician); Harrison F. Russell (Attorney); J. Arthur Martin (Forest Supervisor); Lee Spann (Rancher); and Charles Page (Chamber of Commerce Director).

After being administered by a Board of selected community representatives for 45 years, the Fund was transferred to the Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley in 2012 for stewardship and management of its assets and the scholarship application and awards process.  Following the intent of the founders, the review committee continues with representatives of the organizations named in the original Articles of Incorporation. Scholarship guidelines reflect original intent which is to serve students in the Gunnison Watershed School District who show a need for help with the tuition costs of higher education.

Scholarship awardees are selected on the basis of financial need and a commitment to extend a helping hand to someone else in need some time during their lifetime. A wide variety of scholastic goals of the student applying is acceptable, including vocational or technical education, community college or 4-year college or university.

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