Dozens of students were recognized Wednesday at Trinidad State College as scholarship recipients through the TSJC Educational Foundation. Foundation Director Toni DeAngelis told the group more than $250,000 in scholarships will be awarded this year. The 178 recipients attend Trinidad State in either Trinidad or Alamosa.
Trinidad State President Dr. Carmen Simone thanked foundation board members for their important work. “To our donors here this evening,” said Simone, “we just want to say thank you on behalf of our students and behalf of our institution. Your generous gifts have changed our students’ lives in ways that you probably don’t even recognize. Receiving a scholarship sometimes makes a difference between finishing your degree and dropping out.”
Student Mary Carpenter plays basketball and is on the Trinidad State Robotics Team. She said she was notified about her scholarship the same day her little sister was facing tough medical issues. The oldest of six, Carpenter said, “My parents didn’t have to help me so much so they could put money toward my sister’s medication. And so this scholarship really meant a lot to me and my younger siblings.”
Lacey Vigil is a nursing student who has degrees in chemistry and biology, but couldn’t land the job she wanted. Her father talked her into moving back home and becoming a nurse. She spoke on behalf of her fellow nursing students: “We have jobs, we have kids, we have full time nursing school schedules as well as clinicals which is chaotic, as well as spouses. All those things combined, it means the world to us to have this financial stress taken off. It’s just one less stress that we don’t have to worry about.”
“Scholarships are an important part of the mission of the Foundation and we take great pride in helping to facilitate scholarship opportunities for our students,” said DeAngelis. Last year the Foundation awarded over $200,000 in scholarships. “Scholarships are awarded to eligible students on the basis of academic promise, leadership qualities, community service and financial need.”