Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 15 new local scholarship proposals

by: Susan Meek

Apr

16

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Megan McDermott, Director of Communications
Cell: 720-394-3205, [email protected]

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 15 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER – April 13, 2021: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved 15 proposals that will provide more than $1.1 million in scholarships for Colorado students.

The COSI board awarded $1,147,242 to match locally-raised scholarship dollars one-to-one during the second round of awards for 2020-2021. This funding will support more than 720 students across the state.

The scholarships are multi-year awards ranging from $1,000 to $12,000, depending on the program and financial need, and most students will receive the scholarship for two to four years.

The 15 awards represent 13 counties ($1,002,132) and two institutions of higher education ($145,110).

County-based awards:

Colorado Mesa University Foundation on behalf of Mesa County, $138,759
Colorado Mesa University Foundation on behalf of Montrose County, $41,459
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Chaffee County, $13,980
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Garfield County, $79,453
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Jackson County, $2,000
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Lake County, $7,434
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Pitkin County, $2,000
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Routt County, $9,881
Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Summit County, $18,633
Colorado Northwestern Community College Foundation on behalf of Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties, $19,070
Red Rocks Community College Foundation on behalf of Jefferson County, $399,682
University of Colorado Foundation on behalf of Boulder County, $239,452
YouthPower365 on behalf of Eagle County, $30,329

Institutions of Higher Education:

Colorado Mesa University Foundation, $72,316
University of Northern Colorado Foundation, $72,794

About the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative:
The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative was created to increase the attainment of postsecondary credentials and degrees for underserved students in Colorado. The project addresses this challenge in two ways: accessibility and affordability. To increase accessibility, COSI funds programs that will help prepare students for postsecondary education, as well as support them through completion. To increase affordability, COSI provides matching funds for community scholarships.

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CASB Serving You, 16Apr21

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Apr

16

CASB Serving You!

Week of: April 16, 2021
PDF version

CASB believes that quality public education is the foundation for our nation’s economic prosperity, community’s quality of life, and every child’s opportunity to live their best life. The following are current events and opportunities for our members:

The Scoop

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Apr

14

Wednesday, April 14, 2021

** Action Item

CASB Serving You, 9Apr21

by: Susan Meek

Category: News article

Apr

09

CASB Serving You!

Week of: April 9, 2021
PDF version

CASB believes that quality public education is the foundation for our nation’s economic prosperity, community’s quality of life, and every child’s opportunity to live their best life. The following are current events and opportunities for our members:

The Scoop

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Apr

08

Wednesday, April 07, 2021

** Action Item

Build Back Stronger Colorado

by: Susan Meek

Category: Take Action

Apr

05

Learn more

CASB Serving You, 2Apr21

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Tags

Leadership and awards

Apr

02

CASB Serving You!

Week of: April 2, 2021
PDF version

CASB believes that quality public education is the foundation for our nation’s economic prosperity, community’s quality of life, and every child’s opportunity to live their best life. The following are current events and opportunities for our members:

The Scoop_31March2021

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Mar

31

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

** Action Item

CDE The Scoop_March 24, 2021

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Mar

24

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

** Action Item

Message from NSBA Chief Advocacy Officer

by: Susan Meek

Category: News article

Mar

17

Good afternoon,

CDE: The Scoop Newsletter

by: Susan Meek

Category: Newsletter

Mar

17

Wednesday, March 17, 2021

** Action Item

For Immediate Release: The Colorado Recovery Plan is Here

by: Susan Meek

Category: Media release

Mar

10

Colorado Legislature and Governor Polis
For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 10, 2021

Governor’s Office Press Secretary Shelby Wieman | [email protected]

NSBA Action Alert: Urge Your Senators to Oppose Expanding Funding for Vouchers in the Budget Reconciliation/ COVID Recovery Bill

by: Susan Meek

Category: News article

Tags

Advocacy

Mar

05

NSBA Action Alert: Urge Your Senators to Oppose Expanding Funding for Vouchers in the Budget Reconciliation/ COVID Recovery Bill

The Senate is scheduled to begin votes today on the pending FY2021 Budget Reconciliation and COVID-19 Recovery legislation (H.R. 1319). We need your help to oppose a Senate provision that would provide $2.75 billion of taxpayer money in assistance to private schools.

You can contact your Senators through the Capitol Hill switchboard at 202-224-3121. Additional contact information is available here. Talking points are below.

News Release: Department releases Healthy Minds and Hunger Free Campus Checklists in effort to erase hunger and address mental health needs

by: Susan Meek

Category: Media release

Feb

24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Megan McDermott, Director of Communications
Cell: 720-394-3205, [email protected]

Department releases Healthy Minds and Hunger Free Campus Checklists in an effort to erase hunger and address mental health needs

DENVER – Feb. 24, 2021: The Colorado Department of Higher Education (CDHE), along with Gov. Jared Polis and partners from Young Invincibles, Hunger Free Colorado, the Colorado Department of Human Services and Metropolitan State University of Denver today released the Department’s Hunger Free and Healthy Minds Campus Checklists to encourage the state’s postsecondary intuitions of higher education to apply for Hunger Free and Healthy Minds campus designations.

The checklists aim to improve the health and academic success of students by ensuring that schools have the resources they need to help end hunger and promote mental health services and resources.

“At a time when too many of Colorado’s students worry about how they can afford to eat or pay rent, and struggle with mental health, these checklists are a welcome resource for campuses and a solid step toward erasing hunger and stigmas around mental health,” said Gov. Polis.

The state’s master plan for higher education, Colorado Rises, calls for 66 percent of adults to earn a certificate or degree by 2025. To get there, Colorado must address the barriers to student success some of which are highlighted above.

“Our goal as a state is to have at least seven of our postsecondary institutions of higher education earn a hunger free and healthy minds designation by the end of the year,” said Dr. Angie Paccione, CDHE executive director. “Various social determinants can significantly impact a student’s ability to progress through a postsecondary education program. Addressing these can help propel student success by meeting students where they are and by better addressing their needs.”

Colorado colleges and universities can use the checklists to implement four core programs and six focused initiatives to receive a "hunger free" or "healthy minds" designation. The institutions can also highlight innovative and impactful programs schools already have and may use them as one of the two required programs in each category.

For more information, visit https://highered.colorado.gov/social-determinants-of-student-success.

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