24 Daniels Scholars from NM
212 students overall selected out of 2,000 applicants for Daniels Scholarship
The Daniels Fund has announced the names of 24 high school seniors from New Mexico who have earned a place in the Daniels Scholarship Program. These scholars are chosen for exceptional character, leadership, community commitment, academics, promise, well-roundedness, and emotional maturity as defined by program founder Bill Daniels, officials said in a news release.
Overall, the program picked 212 students from New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming from a pool of more than 2,000 applicants.
“We’re thrilled to welcome these impressive young people and can’t wait to see what they will do with this opportunity,” said Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund, in a statement. “Our goal is to help each of these scholars succeed in college and ultimately become independent, successful in a rewarding career, and actively engaged in their community.” The New Mexico student winners are:
■ Mike Lopez, Arrowhead Park Early College High School
■ A senior from Artesia High School
■ Christian Martinez from Capital High School
■ Osman Pacheco from Capital High School
■ German Rojo from Capital High School
■ Ryan Bailey Smith from Cimarron High School
■ Logan Christopher Finch from Cloudcroft High School
■ Taya Michelle Wilson from Cloudcroft High School
■ Laira Joy Lujan from College and Career High School
■ Joshua Michael Burns from Eldorado High School
■ Elijah Ignacio Ruiz from Eldorado High School
■ Lexy Amber Lujan from Española Valley High School
■ Paige Marie Nakai from Farmington High School
■ Marina Emeel Seheon from Highland High School
■ Nathaniel Dean Bryce from La Cueva High School
■ Jaxson Diego Mirabal from Magdalena High School
■ Caleb Bryce Jorgensen from Onate High School
■ Sarah Vanden-Heuvel from Rio Rancho High School
■ Shailyn Aubrey Beaty from Ruidoso High School
■ Marion Denise Balsamo from Taos Academy Charter School
■ Nialo Theodore Kinney from Taos High School
■ Macki Janae Bilbrey from Texico High School
■ Abigail Kiefer Wilcox from The Masters Program
■ Valeria Isabel Bocanegra from V. Sue Cleveland High School
Scholarship winners can attend any accredited nonprofit college or university in the country with the money covering any educational expenses that remain after any other scholarships, financial aid, and an expected family contribution, officials said.
If the scholar picks one of the Daniels Fund’s 25 partner schools, the family contribution is also covered.
In addition to 24 winners from New Mexico, there were 128 from Colorado, 28 from Utah, and 32 from Wyoming.
Program officials are encouraging motivated high school seniors graduating in 2021 from those same four states should visit DanielsFund.org this fall to apply online for the program.
Financial support comes from the private, charitable Daniels Fund, established by cable TV pioneer Bill Daniels, dedicated to making life better for individuals through its grants and scholarship program, and ethics initiative. Visit DanielsFund. org for more information.