SCHOLARSHIPS AND INTEREST-FREE LOANS
As many as 100 students apply for scholarships and interest-free loans from Bootstraps each year. Depending on the number of scholarships available that year, about 40 percent will receive an award.
All awards are funded by members of the community; people who donate their hard-earned money so that students in the community can pursue their educational dreams. To see a list of Bootstraps supporters, click here.
Scholarships range in value from $500 for one year to $26,000 for four years. Interest-free loans range from $1,000 to $5,000 for the first year of college. Each donor specifies the criteria for the award; therefore, requirements can change from year to year. Many of the awards can be used for vocational or technical training, in addition to two- and four-year colleges.
Students applying for awards will complete Round 1 of the application which will determine if the student qualifies financially. Since we are a needs-based organization, we review the Student Aid Report (generated from completing the FAFSA form), the cost of attendance for the schools or programs the student plans to attend, and any extenuating circumstances to determine need. We will notify students within three business days if they can move to Round 2 or not.
Round 1 of the application will be available on December 1, 2022 and is due no later than January 12, 2023. Round 2 will open as soon as a qualifying student completes Round 1, and it will close February 12, 2023.
Click here for information about our continuing loan program, the Mountain Community Bootstraps Loan Fund (MCBLF).
All awards are funded by members of the community; people who donate their hard-earned money so that students in the community can pursue their educational dreams. To see a list of Bootstraps supporters, click here.
Scholarships range in value from $500 for one year to $26,000 for four years. Interest-free loans range from $1,000 to $5,000 for the first year of college. Each donor specifies the criteria for the award; therefore, requirements can change from year to year. Many of the awards can be used for vocational or technical training, in addition to two- and four-year colleges.
Students applying for awards will complete Round 1 of the application which will determine if the student qualifies financially. Since we are a needs-based organization, we review the Student Aid Report (generated from completing the FAFSA form), the cost of attendance for the schools or programs the student plans to attend, and any extenuating circumstances to determine need. We will notify students within three business days if they can move to Round 2 or not.
Round 1 of the application will be available on December 1, 2022 and is due no later than January 12, 2023. Round 2 will open as soon as a qualifying student completes Round 1, and it will close February 12, 2023.
Click here for information about our continuing loan program, the Mountain Community Bootstraps Loan Fund (MCBLF).
Scholarships and Interest-Free Loans Awarded in 2023
The following list provides the names of the 2023 scholarships and interest-free loans, along with the names of the people who made each award possible this year. We cannot express our gratitude enough to our community members, civic organizations, and businesses who make our work possible and provide much-needed funding to our local students. Those awards with an asterisk indicate multiple scholarships and/or multiple years.
A & H Smithson Computer and Information Sciences Scholarship, provided by Art and Heidi Smithson*
Benson Family Scholarship, provided by Bob Benson*
Bill Ackerman Career and Technical Education Loan, provided by Marie E. Desotell, Trustee via Stewardship Colorado*
Bill Ackerman Loan, provided by Marie E. Desotell, Trustee via Stewardship Colorado*
Bill Loper Performing Arts Scholarship, provided by the Family and Friends of Bill Loper
Bristlecone Excavating Scholarship, provided by Megan and Michael Pollick of Bristlecone Excavating
Bruce & Sally Rogers Family Scholarship, provided by Bruce and Sally Rogers*
Carter Family Foundation Scholarship, provided by Mark and Deborah Carter*
Charles Younkman Memorial Bootstraps Loan, provided by the estate of LaRea Younkman
Conifer Newcomers & Neighbors Scholarship, provided by Conifer Newcomers and Neighbors
Conifer Rotary Scholarship, provided by the Rotary Club of Conifer
Correll Family Scholarship
Craig Lange Passionate Life Award, provided by Family and Friends of Craig Lange*
Dolecek Family Scholarship, provided by Janie Dolecek
Eberl Family Scholarship, provided by the Eberl Family*
Empowerment Scholarship, provided by Cindy and David Higgins*
Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, provided by the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce*
Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Youth of the Year Scholarship, provided by Bill Manning and the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce
Evergreen Elks Scholarship, provided by Evergreen Elks Lodge No. 2363
Evergreen High School Class of 1967 Scholarship, provided by the EHS Class of 1967
Evergreen High School PTSA Scholarship, provided by EHS PTSA
FirstBank Scholarship, provided by FirstBank
Gene and Marcia Younger Scholarship, provided by Blue Spruce Kiwanis
Gene Younger Memorial Bootstraps Loan, provided by Marcia Younger
Gunnar's Scholarship, provided by Rolf Gunnar*
Jake Evens Athletic Achievement Award, provided by Family and Friends of Jake Evens
Jennifer Gann State Farm Insurance Agency Scholarship
John Stechert Memorial Loan
LAM Tree Service Scholarship, provided by Ryan and Maddy Reed of LAM Tree Service*
Mara Parslow Memorial Scholarship, provided by Family and Friends of Mara Parslow
Marty and Don Unger Scholarship, provided by Marty and Don Unger*
Mary P. Amedeo Scholarship for Medical or Engineering Sciences, provided by Bob and Mary P. Amedeo
Maxwell House Scholarship, provided by Courtney College and Kevin Maxwell - Kids to College Pediatric Dentistry
Merritt Bootstraps Loan, provided by Barbara Hadley
Mollie Mitchell and John Wilson Foundation Scholarship, provided by The Mollie Mitchell and John Wilson Foundation
Painter Family Scholarship, provided by an anonymous donor*
Pam Murray Memorial Scholarship, provided by Family and Friends of Pam Murray
PEO Colorado Chapter FR Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter FR
PEO Colorado Chapter HE Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter HE
PEO Colorado Chapter IZ Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter IZ
PEO Chapter JK-CO Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter JK*
Pete Martinez and Bonnie Vivian Memorial Scholarship, provided by Bonnie Vivian*
Phil Shanley Bootstraps Loan, provided by Phil Shanley
Pleasant Park Grange Conifer Scholarship, provided by Pleasant Park Grange
Ponzio Family Bootstraps Loan, provided by The Ponzio Family
R & R Partners Scholarship, provided by Rita Carver and Roger Fertig*
Rob and AJ Ellis Family Scholarship, provided by Rob and AJ Ellis*
Rocky Mountain Literary Festival Scholarship, provided by proceeds from the Rocky Mountain Literary Festival*
Roger Bell Scholarship, provided by Roger Bell
Sahli Family Scholarship, provided by Cindy Sahli
Savoy Family Scholarship, provided by Jack and Sally Savoy
Sergeant Darin Cameron Memorial Scholarship, provided by Tonya Cameron*
Spencer Page SP3 Scholarship, provided by Family and Friends of Spencer Page*
Susan Stearns Scholarship, provided by Blue Spruce Kiwanis
Tim and Marilyn Stechert Scholarship, provided by Tim and Marilyn Stechert*
Tupper's Team Math/Science Scholarship, provided by Tupper's Team
Tuscany Tavern Scholarship, provided by Rick Egloff, Peg Schroeder, and Tammy Drozda of Tuscany Tavern
Von Vihl/Kahler Family Bootstraps Loan, provided by Bill and Patti Von Vihl, Georganne Kahler, and Debbie Von Vihl
Wendy and Peter Mosior Scholarship
Wills Family Scholarship, provided by Tracy and Douglas Wills*
Woodson Realty Loan, provided by Nancy Woodson Realty*
*multiple scholarships or multiple years
The following list provides the names of the 2023 scholarships and interest-free loans, along with the names of the people who made each award possible this year. We cannot express our gratitude enough to our community members, civic organizations, and businesses who make our work possible and provide much-needed funding to our local students. Those awards with an asterisk indicate multiple scholarships and/or multiple years.
A & H Smithson Computer and Information Sciences Scholarship, provided by Art and Heidi Smithson*
Benson Family Scholarship, provided by Bob Benson*
Bill Ackerman Career and Technical Education Loan, provided by Marie E. Desotell, Trustee via Stewardship Colorado*
Bill Ackerman Loan, provided by Marie E. Desotell, Trustee via Stewardship Colorado*
Bill Loper Performing Arts Scholarship, provided by the Family and Friends of Bill Loper
Bristlecone Excavating Scholarship, provided by Megan and Michael Pollick of Bristlecone Excavating
Bruce & Sally Rogers Family Scholarship, provided by Bruce and Sally Rogers*
Carter Family Foundation Scholarship, provided by Mark and Deborah Carter*
Charles Younkman Memorial Bootstraps Loan, provided by the estate of LaRea Younkman
Conifer Newcomers & Neighbors Scholarship, provided by Conifer Newcomers and Neighbors
Conifer Rotary Scholarship, provided by the Rotary Club of Conifer
Correll Family Scholarship
Craig Lange Passionate Life Award, provided by Family and Friends of Craig Lange*
Dolecek Family Scholarship, provided by Janie Dolecek
Eberl Family Scholarship, provided by the Eberl Family*
Empowerment Scholarship, provided by Cindy and David Higgins*
Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Scholarship, provided by the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce*
Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce Youth of the Year Scholarship, provided by Bill Manning and the Evergreen Area Chamber of Commerce
Evergreen Elks Scholarship, provided by Evergreen Elks Lodge No. 2363
Evergreen High School Class of 1967 Scholarship, provided by the EHS Class of 1967
Evergreen High School PTSA Scholarship, provided by EHS PTSA
FirstBank Scholarship, provided by FirstBank
Gene and Marcia Younger Scholarship, provided by Blue Spruce Kiwanis
Gene Younger Memorial Bootstraps Loan, provided by Marcia Younger
Gunnar's Scholarship, provided by Rolf Gunnar*
Jake Evens Athletic Achievement Award, provided by Family and Friends of Jake Evens
Jennifer Gann State Farm Insurance Agency Scholarship
John Stechert Memorial Loan
LAM Tree Service Scholarship, provided by Ryan and Maddy Reed of LAM Tree Service*
Mara Parslow Memorial Scholarship, provided by Family and Friends of Mara Parslow
Marty and Don Unger Scholarship, provided by Marty and Don Unger*
Mary P. Amedeo Scholarship for Medical or Engineering Sciences, provided by Bob and Mary P. Amedeo
Maxwell House Scholarship, provided by Courtney College and Kevin Maxwell - Kids to College Pediatric Dentistry
Merritt Bootstraps Loan, provided by Barbara Hadley
Mollie Mitchell and John Wilson Foundation Scholarship, provided by The Mollie Mitchell and John Wilson Foundation
Painter Family Scholarship, provided by an anonymous donor*
Pam Murray Memorial Scholarship, provided by Family and Friends of Pam Murray
PEO Colorado Chapter FR Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter FR
PEO Colorado Chapter HE Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter HE
PEO Colorado Chapter IZ Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter IZ
PEO Chapter JK-CO Scholarship, provided by PEO Colorado Chapter JK*
Pete Martinez and Bonnie Vivian Memorial Scholarship, provided by Bonnie Vivian*
Phil Shanley Bootstraps Loan, provided by Phil Shanley
Pleasant Park Grange Conifer Scholarship, provided by Pleasant Park Grange
Ponzio Family Bootstraps Loan, provided by The Ponzio Family
R & R Partners Scholarship, provided by Rita Carver and Roger Fertig*
Rob and AJ Ellis Family Scholarship, provided by Rob and AJ Ellis*
Rocky Mountain Literary Festival Scholarship, provided by proceeds from the Rocky Mountain Literary Festival*
Roger Bell Scholarship, provided by Roger Bell
Sahli Family Scholarship, provided by Cindy Sahli
Savoy Family Scholarship, provided by Jack and Sally Savoy
Sergeant Darin Cameron Memorial Scholarship, provided by Tonya Cameron*
Spencer Page SP3 Scholarship, provided by Family and Friends of Spencer Page*
Susan Stearns Scholarship, provided by Blue Spruce Kiwanis
Tim and Marilyn Stechert Scholarship, provided by Tim and Marilyn Stechert*
Tupper's Team Math/Science Scholarship, provided by Tupper's Team
Tuscany Tavern Scholarship, provided by Rick Egloff, Peg Schroeder, and Tammy Drozda of Tuscany Tavern
Von Vihl/Kahler Family Bootstraps Loan, provided by Bill and Patti Von Vihl, Georganne Kahler, and Debbie Von Vihl
Wendy and Peter Mosior Scholarship
Wills Family Scholarship, provided by Tracy and Douglas Wills*
Woodson Realty Loan, provided by Nancy Woodson Realty*
*multiple scholarships or multiple years
