This year we have the pleasure of recognizing two STRIVE Prep - RISE students, Elisa Cardona Lamas and Daniel Hernandez Lopez, who received the Daniels Fund Scholarship.
This scholarship provides students with the opportunity to earn a bachelor's degree that will help them build a successful career and rewarding life. According to Bill Daniels, founder of the scholarship, the recipients "demonstrate exceptional character, leadership, and a commitment to serving their community. The scholarship pays up to $25,000 per year to cover tuition fees, room and board, books and supplies, and other educational expenses.
"Earning the Daniels Fund Scholarship has been a huge blessing to my family and me. As a first-generation student and daughter of immigrant parents, it has made the journey of starting from scratch in a new country worth it. With the diligence that my last name carries through my sisters and me, my parents have not had to pay a single penny for any of our post-secondary education. By earning this scholarship I am able to keep this tradition moving forward and remind my parents that it was worth it to leave their lives behind in Mexico. With the help of this blessing, I am looking forward to utilizing it for my bachelor’s degree at the School of Education at the University of Boulder. I hope to become a teacher in my favorite subject, English, and teach students that knowledge comes with great power and opportunity. Without it, it would be difficult to maneuver life and pave one’s path to making their dreams come true." - Elisa Cardona Lamas
"Winning the Daniels Fund [Scholarship] to me means that my hard work has paid off. I took 3 college classes this past year and applied for various scholarships many of which required written responses. I didn’t just want to pass these classes, I wanted to pass them with all As. It was tough but it was worth it. I plan on going to CU Boulder and getting a degree in Civil Engineering. I want to work alongside urban planners and help with the design and construction of the growing Denver Metro area. " - Daniel Hernandez Lopez