Scholarships are available for graduating seniors from Delta, Montrose, Cedaredge, Olathe, 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.

For detailed information on 2025 scholarships and the links to the online applications, click below.

DEADLINE: March 31, 2025. 

If you have any questions about your DMEA Scholarship application, please call 970.249.3900 or send an email to our Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.

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 will pay tuition, books, room and board for 4 years of college or university education for graduates from RE1J highschools.

In 2025, several full-ride scholarships will be awarded.

Eligible Recipients.  All applicants must submit a completed 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 this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a graduating senior in the Montrose RE1J School district in the year of application.
• Have attended Montrose RE1J school for a minimum of one full school year.
• Have a weighted, cumulative GPA between 3.30 and 4.10 (this represents 70%-90% GPA in the RE1J school district). Eligible GPAs can be either final grades from 11th grade or from after the 1st semester of 12th grade.
• Be accepted at a four-year college or university.
• Must demonstrate financial need.

Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• Current High School Transcript.
• Resume highlighting school activities, community involvement, work experience, honors and awards.
• Two recommendations submitted online, 1 from a representative of the high school, 1 from a person not associated with the school
• FAFSA Student Aid Report. If not eligible for FAFSA, applicant must attach a document explaining any extenuating financial circumstances.
• Three written essay questions.
• Answers and impression from interview with the Donor Trustees/Representatives and Selection Committee.

Final award decisions are made at the complete discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

The 2025 deadline is February 28, 2025.

If you have any questions please call our office at 970.249.3900 or email or Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.

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 will pay tuition, books, room and board for 4 years of college or university education for graduates from RE1J highschools.

In 2025, several full-ride scholarships will be awarded.

Eligible Recipients.  All applicants must submit a completed 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 this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a graduating senior in the Montrose RE1J School district in the year of application.
• Have attended Montrose RE1J school for a minimum of one full school year.
• Have a weighted, cumulative GPA between 3.30 and 4.10 (this represents 70%-90% GPA in the RE1J school district). Eligible GPAs can be either final grades from 11th grade or from after the 1st semester of 12th grade.
• Be accepted at a four-year college or university.
• Must demonstrate financial need.

Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• Current High School Transcript.
• Resume highlighting school activities, community involvement, work experience, honors and awards.
• Two recommendations submitted online, 1 from a representative of the high school, 1 from a person not associated with the school
• FAFSA Student Aid Report. If not eligible for FAFSA, applicant must attach a document explaining any extenuating financial circumstances.
• Three written essay questions.
• Answers and impression from interview with the Donor Trustees/Representatives and Selection Committee.

Final award decisions are made at the complete discretion of the Scholarship Committee.

The 2025 deadline is February 28, 2025.

If you have any questions please call our office at 970.249.3900 or email or Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.

Our Rotary Club values service over self and looks for ways to make a lasting difference in our community.  We value education and know that a college degree can make an enormous difference in a student’s future.  With those values in mind, we realize that some students have tangible financial need and without scholarship support could not 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.

In 2025, three, $2000 scholarships will be awarded in honor of Montrose Rotary Club’s Inspirational Members: Dennis Devor, Gary Krabbe and Richard Tafoya.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Must live in Montrose County and be a current graduate from Montrose County School District including MHS, OHS, Vista Charter School, or Peak Virtual Academy.
• Demonstrate financial need.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & ATTACHMENTS:

• Online application
• Copy of current high school transcript
• Resume including school activities, athletic involvement, community activities, achievements and honors/awards, and work experience.
• One letter of recommendation.
• FAFSA Student Aid Report (The SAR is 1 page – do not submit your entire FAFSA package) If you are not eligible for FAFSA, please attach a document explaining any extenuating financial circumstances.
• Three Essays (max. 3 pages total)

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025. 

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF applicants will be asked to create a sign in and provide basic information for the common application.  This is for many of the MCF scholarships with the February 28th deadline. The Common Application information will be automatically applied to many of the MCF scholarship applications.

If you have any questions, please contact our office 970.249.3900 or send an email to scholarships@montrosecf.org.

Karla began a teaching career in the Montrose County Schools in 1972 that spanned the next 32 years. After closing the Sanborn Park School, the last of the area’s one-room schoolhouses, in the summer of 1977, she went on to teach mostly first grade at Johnson, Riverside–Uncompahgre, and Pomona. Reading was her passion with her motto, “If children can read, they can do anything.” Karla was recognized for teaching excellence by the Montrose Rotary Club, the Altrusa Club and by the Masonic Lodge. She was a candidate for Montrose County School’s Teacher of the Year in 2003.

Karl worked in numerous National Parks and became the General Superintendent of the Black Canyon National Monument, Curecanti National Recreational Area, and Colorado National Monument cluster when the Gilbert family moved to Montrose. Both he and Ruth were civic minded, participating in church activities, serving on community boards and participating in a variety of organizations including Rotary, Community Concert Series, Knife and Fork Club, Rose Club, Club 20.
Whatever Karl was involved with, Ruth supported. As a homemaker, Ruth also participated in Cliolian Club, Home Extension Club and several quilting and Bible Study groups. With Karl’s background in forestry, and having lived and worked in many of the nation’s National Parks, the beauty of nature was highly valued by the family. Crafts of various kinds were also enjoyed and led to retirement hobbies of wood working, quilting and sewing, gardening and nature crafts.

This scholarship is established by the Gilbert family to encourage a deserving student who values education and has a commitment to succeed in a career in education or a branch of the natural resources field, and most importantly in life. Recipients will be chosen based on past academic history, extracurricular involvement, and perceived potential for future academic success as evaluated through the application and attachments.

For 2025, 2 – $1,000, non-renewable scholarships will be awarded.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Students eligible for this scholarship are residents of Montrose County
• Student may be graduating from Montrose or Olathe high school or a nontraditional student attending college.
• Students must be pursuing a degree in a field related to education or natural resources.
• Have a minimum GPA of 2.5
• Demonstrated financial need – low priority.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & ATTACHMENTS:

• Online application
• Letters of recommendation from three adults who know the student well. Only one reference may be connected to the school/college in any position, including coaching.
• FAFSA Student Aid Report – If not eligible for FASFA, then a document explaining any extenuating financial circumstances.
• Current High School or college transcript
• Resume including school activities, athletic involvement, community activities, achievements, honors/awards, and work experience.
• Screen shot or copy of letter of acceptance to a college or university that the applicant is considering attending.
• Essays as described in online application (limit 2 pages total)

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025.

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF applicants will be asked to create a sign in and provide basic information for the common application.  This is for many of the MCF scholarships with the February 28 deadline. The Common Application information will be automatically applied to many MCF scholarship applications.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 970.249.3900 or send an email to  scholarships@montrosecf.org.

REQUIREMENTS

• completed online application
• be a high school senior with a minimum GPA of 2.8
• be enrolled at a College or University in Colorado during the 2025-2026 calendar year in one of the following programs: Water Resources, Civil or Agricultural Engineering or Agricultural Studies
• Must reside, or be from, areas within Water Division 4. This includes those graduating from Cedaredge High School, Crested Butte High School, Delta High School, Gunnison High School, Hothchkiss High School, Lake City High School, Montrose High School, Norwood High School, Nucla High School, Olathe High School, Ouray High School, Paonia High School, Ridgway High School, Telluride High School and non-traditional schools serving the same geographic areas.

In 2025, one $1,500 nonrenewable scholarship will be awarded.

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF applicants will be asked to create a sign in and provide basic information for the common application.  The Common Application information will be automatically applied to many MCF scholarship applications.

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 970.249.3900 or send an email to scholarships@montrosecf.org.

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.  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.”

To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, applicants must:

• Be a graduating senior of a public high school in Montrose County the year of application.
• Have a weighted, cumulative GPA between 3.00 and 3.9. Eligible GPAs can be from either final grades from 11th grade or after the 1st semester of 12th grade.
• Be accepted at a two-year or four-year college or university.

Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• Online Application
• current high school transcript
• resume highlighting school activities, community involvement, work experience, honors, and awards.
• two recommendations submitted online – 1 from a representative of the high school, 1 from a person not associated with the school
• FAFSA Student Aid Report and statement of need
• 3 essays

In 2025, one (1) $1,000 renewable for one year will be awarded.

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025. 

This scholarship was created to honor one of the most successful female businesspersons in the post war era in Montrose County.  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 2025, one $1,500 nonrenewable scholarship will be awarded.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Be a graduate of Montrose High School and apply within a maximum of two years of graduation.
• Be accepted at an accredited four-year college or university in the state of Colorado and plan to pursue a four-year baccalaureate program.
• Demonstrate financial need to pursue your education.
• Reviewers will take into consideration work experience but not required

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & ATTACHMENTS:

• Online application
• Current transcript from High School or college/university you are attending
• Resume’ highlighting school activities, community involvement, work experience, honors and awards and work experience. Work experience is preferred by the review committee.
• FAFSA Student Aid Report –  if not eligible for FASFA, then a document explaining any extenuating financial circumstances.
• Letter of recommendation
• Essay (maximum of one page)

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025.

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF, applicants will be asked to create a sign in and provide basic information for the common application.  This is for many of the MCF scholarships with the February 28 deadline. The Common Application information will be automatically applied to many of the MCF scholarship applications.

If you have any questions, please contact our office at 970.249.3900 or send an email to scholarships@montrosecf.org.

Micki spent much time beyond the classroom organizing events including: spelling bees, reading and writing sleepovers, math and science celebrations, Halloween carnivals, playground equipment fundraisers, tutoring programs, and many other educational activities. Education was important to Micki, as she was the first in her family to attend college. She loved her job as a kindergarten and special education teacher at Olathe Elementary School, and she constantly spoke of how it was our duty to help others succeed in life.

She lived a wonderful and happy life, was a believer in humanity’s goodness, found ways of doing small acts of kindness, and she made it a point to inspire others to do the same. She was an advocate for special education and encouraged many of her students to pursue higher education whether it was college, vocational training, or an associate degree. Micki wanted students enrolled in the Olathe school system to achieve their dreams and improve their circumstances through higher education.

In Micki’s honor, the Maxine Keller Memorial Scholarship awards an annual $1,000 scholarship to an Olathe High School Graduate.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:

• Be a graduating senior of Olathe High School
• Have been enrolled in the Olathe School system for Kindergarten-12
• Have a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
• Be accepted at an accredited four-year college or university, trade school, vocational school or community college
• Demonstrate some financial need to pursue your education

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & ATTACHMENTS:

• Online Application
• Current transcript from High School or college/university you are attending
• Resume highlighting school activities, community involvement, work experience, honors and awards. Work experience is preferred by the review committee.
• Two letters of recommendation, one must be from an Olathe School System personnel
• Two part essay (maximum of 500 words) as instructed on application

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025.

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF applicants will be asked to create a sign in and provide basic information for the common application.  This is for many of the MCF scholarships with the February 28 deadline. The Common Application information will be automatically applied to many of the MCF scholarship applications.

If you have any questions please contact our office at 970.249.3900 or send an email to scholarships@montrosecf.org.

The scholarship is intended to go to a student who is well-rounded, involved in their community, is pursuing post-secondary education, and believes that the game of golf has had an impact on their life so far. This is not a needs-based or merit-based scholarship.

For 2025, there will be two $1000 nonrenewable scholarships awarded.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: 

• Be a Montrose County resident.
• Be a graduating senior from a Montrose County High School (Montrose High School, Olathe High School, Peak Academy, or Vista or Passage Charter Schools)
• Played on the Montrose High School Boys or Girls Golf Team; preference will be given to student who played on a team for more than one year, but will not disqualify an applicant if the applicant only played one year.
• Be accepted at a two or four year college or university. This includes: college, university, junior college, community college, technical institute, or vocational-technical school.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS & ATTACHMENTS:

• Online application
• Current high school transcript
• One letter of recommendation
• Resume that details school activities, athletic involvement, community activities, achievements and honors/awards, career goals, and work experience.
• Essay (One page maximum)

DEADLINE: February 28, 2025. 

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF applicants will be asked to create a sign in and provide basic information for the common application.  This is for many of the MCF scholarships with the March 1st deadline. The Common Application information will be automatically applied to many of the MCF scholarship applications.

If you have any questions, please contact our office 970.249.3900 or send an email to scholarships@montrosecf.org.

Mr. Gale’s achievements as Executive Director of the Chamber of Commerce, City Councilman, and Mayor of Montrose reflected an interest in business, government, and community affairs.

In addition to meeting the eligibility criteria, this scholarship is granted to the student that 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. This is not a needs-based scholarship.

For 2025, One, $1250 non-renewable scholarship will be awarded.

To be eligible for this scholarship applicants must:

• Be a graduating senior of a Montrose County High School or a past graduate attending Colorado  Mesa University Montrose campus.
•  Show community involvement. This involvement should show that the applicant worked beyond themself for their community.
• Be planning to attend a post-secondary institution in the fall of the year the scholarship is awarded. This includes: college, university, junior college, community college, technical institute, or vocational-technical school.

REQUIRED Documents & Attachments:

• Online application
• High school or current college transcript.
• Resume including school activities, athletic involvement, community activities, achievements, honors/awards, and work experience.
• At least two letters of recommendations from school staff/faculty, coaches, mentors, or other personal references.
• Three essays

MCF COMMON APPLICATION: If you are applying for multiple scholarships offered through MCF, please note that for many of our scholarships with the February 28th Deadline the first section of the process is a Common Application that asks for Name, Address, Contact Information, GPA, Future Plans, Transcript, Resume and Letter of Recommendation. The Common Application information will be used for many of our scholarships and then you will be asked to provide the specific attachments required by each individual scholarship.

Deadline: February 28, 2025

If you have any questions or issues with the application, please contact our office 970.249.3900 or send an email to our Grants and Scholarship Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.

Each year one or more $2500 scholarships will be awarded to our future farmers seeking a higher education in agriculture.

Criteria:
This scholarship is intended to support a qualified student pursue a degree and a career in agriculture.
Ineligible applicants and late submissions will not be considered.

Requirements:
Applicants must:

• Complete the online application.
• 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 the 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 or Life Sciences.

After applications have been received and reviewed, there will be a round of interviews before the final recipients are chosen.

Deadline: 5/15/2025

If you have any questions about your Montrose County Future Farmers Scholarship application please call 970.249.3900 or send an email to our Scholarships Manager at scholarships@montrosecf.org.

If you wish to donate to support the future of this scholarship,  contact our office at 970.249.3900 or visit this donation page.

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.

SCHOLARSHIP CRITERIA

• Must be enrolled or intending to enroll in a certified Automotive Technology Program with the desire to finish the entire training of the offered program.
• Must be from one of the following counties on the Western Slope of Colorado: Montrose, Delta, Mesa, Ouray, San Miguel, Gunnison and Garfield. Preference will be given to students from Montrose County.
• Interest and dedication to Auto Mechanic trade as demonstrated by questionnaire.
• Demonstrated financial need

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS:

If using the online application these documents will be requested, if you are downloading paper forms you will need to download the application and the questionnaire.

• MCF Automotive Scholarship Application including financial information requested
• Resume including community and/or school activities, achievements, honors/awards and work experience.
• Letters of recommendation (at least two letters are required)
• Completed Automotive Enthusiasts Questionnaire
• If applicable, copy of FASFA – 1 Page Student Aid Report (SAR) only

DEADLINE: May 15, 2025

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:

• • Be enrolled in the upcoming semester of a local Law Enforcement Academy or currently attending a local Law Enforcement Academy.
  • Be a Montrose County resident.

• • Plan to enroll full-time in a college, university, or technical college for the 2025-2026 school year. All schools must be accredited.