Vanessa Quintana, a current participant in our Touchstone program, has been selected as a recipient of the prestigious Daniels Fund Scholarship. Vanessa was chosen from a field of over 2,000 applicants to be awarded one of 263 full college scholarships. She completed a rigorous application and interview process to receive this scholarship, awarded on the basis of academics, community involvement, and financial need. Vanessa’s experience at CYAR, as well as her activism with organizations such as Students 4 Justice and Metro Organizations for People, and her leadership as student body president at Colorado High School Charter made her an ideal candidate to become a Daniels Scholar.

Vanessa aspires to use her college education to make an even bigger impact in her community. She wants to get the tools to make a difference in a big way, possibly by getting involved in the field of public policy, education, community organizing, or criminal justice. Vanessa will be using her scholarship to attend Hastings College in Nebraska next fall. She chose Hastings because she plans to pursue their unique major called Peace, Justice, and Social Change with a double major in Political Science.

In her own words, Vanessa speaks to who she wants to be for her community, as well as the impact that participating with CYAR has made for her: “I found the motivation to break the cycle of dropping out of high school and the desire to inspire my peers to do the same. I am now an Activist that inspires people to better themselves. I will find a reason to motivate the unmotivated to take a risk and to improve their lives. I am a future politician that will positively impact my community and city. I will create opportunity for the less fortunate and spark a light of hope for those who are in the dark. I am a stepping stone for others to create a better life as CYAR was a stepping stone for me, in time of great need!”

MORE Information about the Daniels Scholarship:

Two Hundred Sixty-Three high school seniors from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming who have demonstrated strong character and a determination to succeed in life have been named Daniels Scholars and will receive funding to attend the college or university of their choice, it was announced today by Linda Childears, president and CEO of the Daniels Fund.

“These are promising and motivated students determined to succeed in life, but lacking the financial resources to continue their education,” explained Childears. “They are outstanding young people and the Daniels Fund is proud to partner with them as they fulfill their dreams of attending college,” she said.

With the announcement, the Daniels Fund will surpass 1,765 scholarships awarded since the program was launched in the year 2000. The group of new Daniels Scholars includes 181 from Colorado.

To identify candidates for the scholarship, the Daniels Fund partners with youth serving agencies and college prep providers that nominate candidates for the Daniels Scholarship. After being nominated, candidates take part in an interview and selection process in the communities in which they live.

In establishing the Daniels Scholarship program, cable pioneer Bill Daniels was seeking promising students with financial need whose academic performance may not necessarily reflect their potential, but who demonstrate strength of character, a well-rounded personality and a record of accomplishment in giving back to the community.

The Daniels Scholarship is not “full ride,” but is supplemental to all other financial resources, including an estimated family contribution, available to the student. By requiring students to apply for other readily available financial resources such as Pell Grants, the Daniels Fund is able to provide even more scholarships to deserving young people seeking to attend college.

After other financial aid resources have been applied, the Daniels Scholarship covers all required tuition and fees, room and board, books and supplies and a variety of other miscellaneous expenses. Students also receive a laptop computer and a printer.

Bill Daniels, a cable pioneer known for his kindness and generosity to those in need, established the Daniels Fund in 1997 to provide grants and scholarships in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. When he died in the year 2000, his estate transferred to the Fund, making it one of the largest foundations in the Rocky Mountain West.

Visit www.danielsfund.org for more information.