The Montrose Community Foundation (MCF) helps to fund the futures of Montrose County students. In 2025, the total value of scholarships awarded exceeded $750,000. Browse available scholarships below and click READ MORE for additional information and their unique requirements.
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to any of MCF’s scholarships or start your own scholarship fund, please contact our office at 970.249.3900.
Nick Huntington Gray never attended college; instead, he was educated through a lifetime of rich and varied experiences. He took his final horseback ride to tend his cattle just one week before his passing at the age of 100 on May 24, 2019. A veteran, successful rancher, businessman, and entrepreneur, Nick left behind a legacy as enduring as his heritage and the remarkable life he lived.
Gray was an inspiration to all who knew him because of his perseverance, work ethic, and dedication to his industry. His motto and advice to all he met was “work hard and save your money.” Because he lived his life by that motto, Nick Gray’s legacy will live on through full-ride scholarships bearing his name. The Nick H. Gray Scholarship pays tuition, books, and room and board for 4 years of college or university education for graduates from RE1J high schools.
In 2026, several full-ride scholarships will be awarded.
Eligible Recipients All applicants must complete an online application to MCF prior to the deadline each year. If you are a past graduate from an RE1J school and have the desire to earn a four-year degree as a non-traditional student, please fill out a different application after reading the alternate requirements here.
To be eligible for the Nick H. Gray scholarship, applicants must:
Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:
Final award decisions are made at the complete discretion of the Scholarship Committee.
Deadline: February 18, 2026
If you have any questions, please email our Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.
Ken and Marlene Townsend and their family grew up in Montrose. Caring a great deal about Montrose and the future of the community, they established this scholarship to encourage Montrose youth to excel in years to come by helping Montrose High School students pursue their educational goals at a four year university or college.
The scholarship will be awarded to a deserving student who excels scholastically, gives back to their community through community service, and shows leadership and dedication through involvement in extracurricular activities.
In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, this scholarship is granted to an exemplary learner who is passionate about their community and demonstrates financial need.
The Townsend family will interview the top candidates. The interview and overall impression factors heavily into the final candidate selection.
For 2026, one (1) $10,000 scholarship, renewable for four years, will be awarded.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & ATTACHMENTS:
DEADLINE: March 1, 2026
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
Each year, DMEA offers more than $100,000 in college scholarships to local graduating seniors and continuing education students. Funding is made available through DMEA’s Unclaimed Capital Credits Funds.
These merit-based scholarships are available for graduating seniors from Delta, Montrose, Cedaredge, Olathe, and North Fork High Schools, including non-traditional schools.
Scholarships are also available for continuing ed students and those attending Technical College of the Rockies, Hotline School, and Colorado Mesa University-Montrose Campus.
Guzman DMEA Character Scholarship and the Guzman DMEA Lineworker Scholarships are made possible through the generous support of DMEA’s funding partner Guzman.
For detailed information on 2026 scholarships and the links to the online applications, click below.
DEADLINE: March 1, 2026.
If you have any questions about the DMEA Scholarships, please email our Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.
David “Dave” Bangert was born on November 2, 1964, in Fort Wayne, Indiana. At a young age, his family relocated to Nashua, New Hampshire, where he developed a lifelong love of athletics. He played baseball, basketball, and football, and later took up rock and ice climbing, as well as golf. The scholarship honors Dave’s legacy by helping student-athletes pursue their education while carrying forward his passion for the sports he loved so dearly.
At fifteen, Dave discovered his passion for climbing and skiing—interests that would shape the rest of his life. He worked as a mountain guide, leading expeditions across Alaska, the Cascades, and several international destinations, and played a key role in the early years of the Ouray Ice Fest. Dave truly represented excellence in mountaineering.
After his mother’s passing, Dave and his father found comfort and connection on the golf course, a place that became central to his life. When he later moved to Montrose, Colorado, Dave worked in the climbing industry and in forestry—a career that allowed him to combine his deep respect for nature with meaningful work throughout the Telluride and Mountain Village communities. Golf remained his favorite pastime. He played nearly every course across the Western Slope and in neighboring states, always eager to improve his skills and share his enthusiasm with others. Dave eventually became a golf coach in Ouray, where he found immense joy mentoring the young men he affectionately called his “golf kids.” His patience, encouragement, and genuine love for the sport left a lasting impact on many.
Dave passed away in 2025 after a courageous battle with cancer. Although he and his wife, Monica, did not have children of their own, they shared a deep commitment to supporting the youth in the community.
One, $2500 renewable scholarship (up to a total of $10,000) will be awarded. Ineligible applicants and late submissions will not be considered.
To be eligible, applicants must:
Deadline: March 16, 2026
If you have any questions, please email our Grants and Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.
The Montrose Community Foundation works to improve the quality of life for all in our community. This scholarship is for students who have overcome challenges, had significant struggles, or had extenuating circumstances and will graduate from high school despite their challenges.
To be eligible, applicants must:
Each year, the Montrose Rotary Club awards generous scholarships to students who reside in Montrose or Olathe and are graduating from Montrose County School District High Schools, including non-traditional schools.
Our Rotary Club values service over self and looks for ways to make a lasting difference in our community. We value education and recognize that a college degree can make a significant difference in a student’s future. With those values in mind, we realize that some students have tangible financial needs and, without scholarship support, would struggle to begin higher education.
Our desire is to support students who show strong academic potential, are capable, well-rounded, and will make the most of their future with a scholarship. The Review Committee will give preference to students who are Rotary Interact members.
Three, $2000 scholarships will be awarded in honor of three of Montrose Rotary Club’s Inspirational Members: Dennis Devor, Gary Krabbe and Richard Tafoya.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:
DEADLINE: March 16, 2026
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
This scholarship was established by the Gilbert family to support a deserving student who values school, and is committed to succeeding in a career in education or the natural resources field—and, most importantly, in life. Recipients are selected based on academic record, extracurricular involvement, and demonstrated potential for future academic success.
The Gilbert family moved to Montrose in the early 1970s and placed a strong emphasis on education. Karla earned a Home Economics degree from what is now Southern Utah State University in Cedar City, Utah, as well as an Elementary Education degree from Utah State University in Logan. Karl graduated in forestry from Colorado Aggies, now Colorado State University. Ruth earned a secondary teaching degree from Adams State College and later a Library Science degree from the University of Denver.
Karla began her teaching career in Montrose County Schools in 1972, dedicating the next 32 years to education. After closing Sanborn Park School—the last of the area’s one-room schoolhouses—in the summer of 1977, she went on to teach primarily first grade at Johnson, Riverside–Uncompahgre, and Pomona. Reading was her passion, reflected in her motto: “If children can read, they can do anything.” Karla received recognition for teaching excellence from the Montrose Rotary Club, the Altrusa Club, and the Masonic Lodge, and she was a candidate for Montrose County Schools’ Teacher of the Year in 2003.
Karl worked in several National Parks and became the General Superintendent of the Black Canyon National Monument, Curecanti National Recreation Area, and Colorado National Monument complex when the family moved to Montrose. Both he and Ruth were deeply civic-minded, actively participating in church activities, serving on community boards, and engaging in organizations such as Rotary, the Community Concert Series, Knife and Fork Club, Rose Club, and Club 20. Ruth supported Karl’s work and, as a homemaker, was also involved in the Cliolian Club, Home Extension Club, and multiple quilting and Bible study groups. With Karl’s background in forestry and the family’s time living and working in National Parks, an appreciation for the beauty of nature became a core value. They also enjoyed a variety of crafts, which blossomed into retirement hobbies including woodworking, quilting, sewing, gardening, and nature crafts.
For 2026, 2 – $1,000, non-renewable scholarships will be awarded.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
Required Documents & Attachments:
DEADLINE: March 16, 2026
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
The Roy and Louis Faussone Scholarship funds students wishing to continue their education beyond high school, either in college or technical education. Babe explains, “I realized the importance of education after high school and my war experience. It is our goal, that a young person who shows great promise and who may not be in the top tier of his/her class, but who shows intellect and determination should be given an opportunity to purse his or her dreams.”
Roy and Louis “Babe” Faussone were born of the pioneer spirit. Their parents, Louis and Teresa Faussone, were immigrants to the United States in the latter part of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. All six of the Faussone brothers immigrated to the United States from their Italian village of Montalanghe.
Arriving in Montrose, for a time, the six brothers had adjoining farms, east of town on Highway 50, then known as Fair View, near today’s Montrose Water Works on Miguel Road. The last of these farms has been owned since 1946 by Louis F. “Babe” Faussone, born in Montrose in 1923. Following his army service in World War II, most of it in occupied Japan, he partnered with his brother Roy B. (1917-2011), also an army veteran, and together they grew crops and vegetables for 64 years. They were especially known for raising potatoes that supplied many of the restaurants in town.
Babe graduated from Montrose High School and soon after joined the American forces in WWII. His experiences in Japan led to a fascination with other cultures. Always a reader, he turned in later life to recorded books. For ten years, he has “read” about 200 books a year. This experience led him to endow a fund for the purchase of books at the Montrose Library.
In the early 2000s, Roy and Louis Faussone decided to create a scholarship with the Montrose Community Foundation.
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:
Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:
In 2026, one (1) $1,000 scholarship, renewable for one year will be awarded.
DEADLINE: March 16, 2026
The family of Ada M. White, under the direction of her brother, Lester Moore of Denver, created the Ada M. and Luther B. White Memorial Scholarship for Montrose High School graduates in 1999. This scholarship was created to honor one of the most successful female businesspersons in the post war era in Montrose County.
Ada Madeline Moore White was born in 1906 in Delta County. Following high school graduation, she graduated from Ross Business College in Grand Junction. She returned to Montrose, where she worked as the city clerk from 1934 to 1950. She married Luther B. White and opened White Realty, and purchased and operated the White Motel. After attending the University of Colorado, she earned a license in real estate appraisals and was one of the first qualified MAI real estate appraisers in western Colorado. She remained active as a real estate broker and appraiser until her retirement in 1987.
In addition to meeting the criteria, the student who receives this scholarship must be hard-working, demonstrate financial need, and show involvement in many activities in addition to schooling. They must have a drive to attend college and be successful, similar to Ada M. White.
In 2026, one $2,000 nonrenewable scholarship will be awarded.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:
DEADLINE: March 16, 2026
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
Maxine (Micki) Keller, a dedicated teacher for 30 years and an educator for life, was taken from the Olathe community in a tragic accident on November 28th, 2018. Though she is no longer with us, her family continues her legacy through this scholarship to honor the life she lived and the impact she had on individuals through her educational and scholarship endeavors.
Micki devoted her life to advocating for what she believed in. Her passion for helping students pursue higher education was especially evident in retirement, when she established a local scholarship program for Olathe High School graduates. She funded it through proceeds from the Olathe Elementary School Store she operated, where she became affectionately known in the community as the “Store Lady.”
Beyond her classroom work, Micki dedicated countless hours to organizing activities such as spelling bees, reading and writing sleepovers, math and science celebrations, Halloween carnivals, playground equipment fundraisers, tutoring programs, and many other educational events. Education mattered deeply to her—she was the first in her family to attend college—and she cherished her work as a kindergarten and special education teacher at Olathe Elementary School. She often spoke about our responsibility to help others succeed.
Micki lived a joyful life, believed in the goodness of others, practiced small acts of kindness, and inspired those around her to do the same. A strong advocate for special education, she encouraged her students to pursue higher learning—whether college, vocational training, or an associate degree. She wanted students in the Olathe school system to chase their dreams and improve their circumstances through education.
In her honor, the Maxine Keller Memorial Scholarship awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to an Olathe High School senior.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:
DEADLINE: March 16, 2026
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
The Cobble Creek Golf Associations established this scholarship to help boys or girls involved with Montrose County high schools’ golf programs to pursue their goals of attending a two or four-year college or university. This scholarship is intended for well-rounded students who are involved in their community and believe that the game of golf has had an impact on their lives. This is not a needs-based or merit-based scholarship.
For 2026, there will be two $2000 nonrenewable scholarships awarded.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:
DEADLINE: March 16, 2016
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
Mr. Gale’s achievements as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, City Councilman, and Mayor of Montrose reflect an interest in business, government, and community affairs. The Montrose Chamber – Ken Gale Scholarship was created to reflect the values of this remarkable individual. The scholarship will be awarded to the student who best exemplifies the qualities that Mr. Gale demonstrated throughout his career in the Montrose community.
In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, this scholarship is granted to the student who has demonstrated a high level of community service. This involvement should represent a ‘spirit’ that has taken the applicant beyond themselves and into the community, similar to the ‘spirit’ that Ken Gale himself showed.
For 2026, one $1500, nonrenewable scholarship will be awarded. This is not a needs-based scholarship.
Deadline: March 16, 2026
If you have any questions, please email our Grants and Scholarship Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:
If you have any questions, please email our Grants and Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.
The Chosen Path Trade Scholarship, presented by Don Martin with United Country Real Colorado Properties is designed for graduating high school seniors and past graduates of Western Colorado high schools, and for Western Colorado students currently attending school in a trade program. 5, $2000 scholarships will be awarded.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:
DEADLINE: April 15, 2026
If you have any questions, please email scholarships@montrosecf.org.
The Automotive Enthusiasts Scholarship Fund was set up by David Langlois in 2017. Dave was born in Illinois, earned a B.S. and M.S. in fishery biology at CSU, and was employed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife for more than 30 years. He retired in 2001. Dave’s true love in life, besides his wife Cathy, was motorcycles. Specifically, he loved riding them and restoring them. He gave much of his time and talent to helping others restore their own motorcycles and vehicles.
Dave’s love of restoring and working in mechanics was inherited from his father, Bernie. He cherished memories of going to the stock car races at the fairgrounds as a young boy. His father would repair and modify stock cars for racing on the clay tracks – a popular pastime in the 1950s in Illinois.
In an age increasingly focused on electronics, Dave felt that there was a lack of encouragement for individuals who love to work with their hands to build and fix things. The Automotive Enthusiasts Scholarship is intended to help support a traditional (or non-traditional) student who has a passion and/or aptitude for auto mechanics, enjoys working with his/her hands, has financial need and intends to pursue a career in auto mechanics. Applicants will also answer a brief questionnaire that asks them about their hands-on experience and their favorite motorcycle or car.
This is a $6,000 total scholarship intended to fund an Auto Technology degree program for a student living in Western Colorado. The scholarship will be paid incrementally based on the length of the Automotive program. In addition, if a student is currently enrolled in a program and half-way through the program or further, the scholarship amount may be reduced.
Consecutive semester payments will be paid after verification of enrollment for the upcoming semester of the Automotive Program and a GPA of at least 2.50 from the previous semester. Final payment will be paid after enrollment in the last year Master Program (or similar certification) and having a status as a student in good standing.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
Application requirements:
DEADLINE: May 1, 2026
Since the late 1800’s, Montrose County has been feeding the valley and our nation with fruits, grains, vegetables and livestock. The modern farmer faces many challenges owning a farm in today’s economy with a changing environment and ever-evolving technology. Montrose County believes in honoring and advancing the future of agriculture through dedicating funds to support the producers of tomorrow
Each year, one or more $2500 scholarships will be awarded to our future farmers seeking a higher education in agriculture.
To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must:
– be a resident of Montrose County.
– be a Senior graduating from a high school in Montrose County, including non-traditional schools.
– have been involved in Future Farmers of America (FFA) for at least the last two years.
– have a current weighted, cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
– be accepted at and planning to attend a college, university, or vocational/technical school.
– be pursuing a degree in Agricultural and Life Sciences.
– have the desire to pursue a career in Agriculture.
After applications have been received and reviewed, there will be a round of interviews before the final recipients are chosen.
Deadline: May 31, 2026
If you have any questions about your Montrose County Future Farmers Scholarship application, please email our Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.
The Montrose County Board of County Commissioners established the Gilmore – Waterman Sheriff’s Scholarship to provide financial assistance to successful candidates enrolled in a regional Law Enforcement Academy. This scholarship is named in honor of the late Sheriffs Tom Gilmore and Warren Waterman.
Mr. Gilmore worked for the Montrose County Sheriff’s Office for 35 years and dedicated his life to law enforcement in our community.
Mr. Waterman served as a police officer for the Montrose Police Department from 1968 – 1971. He then served with the Montrose Sheriff’s Department from 1971 – 1998.
This scholarship is intended to go to a student who is well-rounded, involved in the community and willing to dedicate themselves as a law enforcement professional.
Scholarship awarded shall be in the non-renewable amount of $2000-$2500.
To be eligible the applicant must:
