Feb. 24, 2021 — Glenwood Springs, Colorado — Alpine Bank, Colorado Mountain College and the Colorado Mountain College Foundation have an enduring commitment to increasing access to higher education to deserving youth who are the first in their families to go to college.
Since 1996, the three partners have helped hundreds of qualified college students pursue higher education, with what was known as the Alpine Bank Latino-Hispanic Scholarship.
Now, to better reflect the evolving diversity in the communities they serve, and after almost a quarter-century since it was introduced, the partners are renaming their Latino-Hispanic Scholarship and introducing the Alpine Bank First-Generation Scholarship for the 2021-22 academic year.
With the new scholarship, the three sponsoring entities aim to provide the financial, academic and motivational support to help an expanded population of first-generation students succeed in a higher education environment.
The Alpine Bank First-Generation Scholarship will provide a $2,500 annual renewable scholarship to a graduating senior from each of 15 high schools within the CMC district in communities where Alpine Bank has branches. Each scholarship provides a total of two years’ financial support toward the cost of tuition, books and fees.
“At Alpine Bank we recognize the importance of diversity on our college campuses as well as in our bank branches,” says Susana Salamun, vice president of community inclusion for Alpine Bank. “Our mission is to support students pursuing college to attain the skills and education they need for their futures, who also have the distinction of being the first in their families to do so.”
“Alpine Bank and CMC have grown up together and throughout these decades, Alpine Bank has been such a good friend to CMC students,” said Kristin Heath Colon, CEO of the CMC Foundation. “Over the years more than 225 students have received the Alpine Bank Latino-Hispanic Scholarship, and we are honored to continue working alongside Alpine Bank to support CMC students who are the first in their families to attend college.”
The Alpine Bank First-Generation Scholarship application is open now through March 1, 2021, and can be found at CMC’s Scholarships.
About Alpine Bank
Founded in 1973, Alpine Bank, member FDIC, is an employee-owned organization with assets exceeding $5.1 billion. With headquarters in Glenwood Springs and 39 banking offices across Colorado, Alpine Bank employs more than 760 people and serves more than 160,000 customers with retail, business, wealth management*, mortgage and electronic banking services. Alpine Bank has a 5-star rating for financial strength by BauerFinancial, Inc., the nation’s leading bank rating firm. The 5-star rating is BauerFinancial’s highest rating for financial institutions. Learn more at Alpine Banks. Alpine Banks of Colorado, the holding company for Alpine Bank, trades Class B Nonvoting Common Stock under the symbol “ALPIB” on the OTCQX® Best Market.
*Alpine Bank Wealth Management services are not FDIC insured, may lose value and are not guaranteed by the bank.
About Colorado Mountain College
Founded in 1965, Colorado Mountain College provides a diverse range of learning opportunities at its 11 campuses and learning locations throughout the state’s north-central mountain region, as well as online. The college offers over 125 certificates and degrees, including bachelor’s degrees, and is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. From high school students earning college credit, to adults learning English or earning a GED, to students of any age earning certificates or associate and bachelor’s degrees, to local residents passionate about lifelong learning, Colorado Mountain College plays an intrinsic role in the lives and communities it touches.
The U.S. Department of Education has ranked Colorado Mountain College among the country’s most affordable public colleges offering bachelor’s degrees. Visit Colorado Mountain College to learn more.