CMC awards Alpine Bank scholarship to local students

Three students earn assistance to attend Colorado Mountain College

Andy Sandoval and Pedro Gallegos with Alpine Bank representative
Andy Sandoval from Eagle Valley High School and Pedro Gallegos from Red Canyon High School are among the 11 students who received the 2014 Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholarship to attend Colorado Mountain College. With them are (left to right) Edgar Luevanos, Alpine Bank customer service representative, Eagle; Sandoval; Gallegos; and Marci Colby, vice president for Alpine Bank in Avon. Not pictured is Thelma Juarez, scholarship recipient from Battle Mountain High School. Photo Charles Engelbert

This year’s Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholarship program is helping 11 students from Western Slope high schools attend Colorado Mountain College next fall.

Three graduating seniors from Eagle County were recently named as Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholars: Andy Sandoval from Eagle Valley High School, Thelma Juarez from Battle Mountain High School and Pedro Gallegos from Red Canyon High School.

Alpine Bank has been awarding scholarships to qualified students since the program began in 1996 and, to date, has financed more than 170 scholarships.

To be considered for these specialized scholastic awards, students must be of Latino/Hispanic descent, classify as an in-district student, have at least a 2.5 GPA and demonstrate financial need, among other criteria. Each scholarship ­­– which equals $2,200 a year – helps to cover the cost of tuition, fees and books for two years.

Eagle Valley grad wants to help others get healthy, stay healthy

Andy Sandoval
Andy Sandoval received the 2014 Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholarship for Eagle Valley High School. This year the scholarship covers two years of tuition, fees and books for 11 students to attend any Colorado Mountain College campus. Photo Charles Engelbert

Eagle Valley High School graduating senior Andres “Andy” Sandoval began his sophomore year in a dark place. He’d stopped caring about school and his own physical health. He turned inward, growing out his hair, dressing in black and disconnecting from his peers.

But it only takes one positive influence to turn a life around. For him that influence was Pedro Garcia, a friend who invited Sandoval to come lift weights – to build up his body, mind and spirit. At the gym, Sandoval found an inner strength he didn’t know he had.

Now, he is a competitive body builder and a role model for many younger students who turn to him for advice. “Younger kids would ask me questions about which muscles to work,” he said, “and I discovered I really loved helping people.”

He had always enjoyed science classes, from chemistry to biology and physiology. Training as a body builder only increased his interest in health science. “I’m enthusiastic about how the human body works,” he said, “and I want to learn more about it.”

Sandoval’s goal is to become a registered nurse, so he can continue helping people to reach their health goals and pursue their passions in life. He hopes to go on for a bachelor’s and apply to medical school.

“Right now, I’m taking little steps to a big future,” he said.“The Alpine Bank scholarship really encouraged me to go to college. I’ll use every penny they give me to become a registered nurse.”

Hard work propelled BMHS’s Juarez to top 15 percent of class

Battle Mountain High School graduating senior Thelma Juarez wasn’t able to attend the recent scholarship banquet to honor recipients, because she was busy taking an Advanced Placement exam in statistics. And that sums up one of the reasons she is a scholarship recipient.

“Ever since I was born,” Juarez said, “my parents have told me there’s no place for you in the world without an education.” That message motivated her to strive toward college, despite limited family funds.

During her high school career, Juarez earned nearly 35 college credit hours through concurrent-enrollment and AP classes. She maintained a 3.91 grade point average, worked with the Link Crew, mentored 9th-graders in her high school and volunteered as a reading buddy at the Avon library.

Earning a scholarship was a big relief for Juarez. “It was such a help to know I could continue on,” she said. “I didn’t want to stop and take a year off.”

She plans to attend CMC in Edwards and study math. She then hopes to transfer to Colorado State University to pursue a degree, and a career, in actuarial science.

Red Canyon’s Gallegos already signed up for summer classes at CMC

Pedro Gallegos
Pedro Gallegos received the 2014 Alpine Bank Latino/Hispanic Scholarship for Red Canyon High School. This year the scholarship covers two years of tuition, fees and books for 11 students to attend any Colorado Mountain College campus. Photo Charles Engelbert

Pedro Gallegos worked hard to achieve his goals, literally. During the last two years of high school, he worked 70 hours a week on top of his coursework. “I didn’t sleep,” he laughed. But he did develop a strong work ethic and a belief in the power of perseverance and determination.

Gallegos will use the Alpine Bank scholarship to turn his energies toward earning an associate degree in business, starting with summer classes at CMC in Edwards. “I don’t want to waste any time,” he said. His goal is to transfer after two years at CMC to either CU-Boulder or the University of Denver to pursue a degree in international relations, with an eye toward a career in politics.

“This scholarship is a huge opportunity,” he said. “It’s a chance to achieve my goals and get to where I want to be in life.”

This year’s other scholarship recipients and their respective high schools are Katia Reyes-Castillo, Glenwood Springs High School; Elide Andrade, Roaring Fork High School; Magdalena Hermosillo-Velez, Rifle High School; Alex Jaquez-Caro, Coal Ridge High School; Cinthia Valderrama, Summit High School; Celeste Portillo, Steamboat Springs High School; Joeli Villa Cedeno, Aspen High School; and Wilber Marquez, Basalt High School.