COLORADO GARDEN FOUNDATION AWARDS FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENT TO ATTEND COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

COLORADO GARDEN FOUNDATION AWARDS FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDENT TO ATTEND COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY

Additional Scholarships Awarded to CSU and Northeastern Junior College Students

DENVER (April 30, 2014) – Colorado Garden Foundation (CGF), a non-profit corporation that provides funds for horticultural-related grants and scholarships in Colorado, awarded Reece Melton of Dacono, Colo. a four-year, full-ride scholarship to Colorado State University (CSU) to study agricultural sciences. In addition to paid tuition, book fees, room and board for four years, he will receive a laptop and printer as part of the scholarship.

After being told he won the scholarship during a special CGF meeting, Melton said, “Thank you, this is a huge honor. Having the Colorado Garden Foundation scholarship will allow me to earn a degree in agricultural sciences and pursue my dream of becoming a teacher. I intend to honor every portion of this opportunity to prepare myself to become an outstanding agriculture educator in the future.”

Through the application process, CGF learned that “Reece is one of the most hard-working, honest and motivated students. From his academics, extra-curricular activities and various other life commitments, he is unmatched,” said, Kaitlyn Gentert, Erie High School teacher. “He is not afraid of failure and knows how to learn from experience that do not go as planned. Reece takes all experience in life, academic, sports-related, agricultural work, and takes the time to reflect upon the meaning and lessons learned. I am thrilled to see him awarded this scholarship.”

Melton graduates from Erie High School in May. While maintaining a GPA of 4.1, he served as the president of the National Honor Society, is involved with the St. Vrain Valley Future Farmers of America Chapter and 4H, has logged 50 hours of community service in a school year that varied from flood relief efforts, works with elementary school aged children and ran canned food drives to aid local families.

Accompanied by his parents at the meeting, Melton’s mom said, “I’m not sure saying thank you covers it. We were committed to sending Reece to college but this scholarship will eliminate a huge financial pressure. We are so proud to see all his hard work has paid off – he has earned this scholarship.”

After receiving and reviewing numerous applications, the CGF board members traveled in April to meet with the top applicants in their hometowns throughout Colorado. The board interviewed the applicants, their families and teachers, and then toured the finalists’ high schools to determine financial needs, community service and future career endeavors before selecting the scholarship winner. The CGF full-ride scholarship is awarded from proceeds generated from the annual Colorado Garden & Home Show and annual Colorado Fall Home Show.

“We met with a lot of outstanding candidates, but Reece’s character and accomplishments were unequalled,” said Jim Fricke, executive director of the Colorado Garden Foundation. “It was an unanimous decision by our board to offer Reece this scholarship. During the interview process, one of his teachers described Reece as, ‘a leader with traits that shine in all he does from the classroom to the show ring to the basketball court. Reece is the student that volunteers for every opportunity, serves as a role model for those around him, and truly makes the organizations he is a part of, a better place for all,’ and we couldn’t agree more.”

CGF awarded additional college scholarships to Colorado students for the 2014-2015 school year including:

  • Jordan Karg, attending Northeastern Junior College this fall, was awarded a scholarship to help cover tuition, books and fees for this coming school year.
  • Thomas Zimmerman, will be starting his senior year at CSU this fall, was awarded a scholarship to cover his tuition, books and fees for the upcoming year.
  • Bethani Puzo, the graduate scholarship award winner, is studying at CSU. Her scholarship includes her tuition, books and fees for the upcoming year.

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About Colorado Garden Foundation
Colorado Garden Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, 501(c)(3), provides funds for horticultural-related grants and scholarships for the benefit of Colorado. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $5.5 million for horticultural projects and scholarships throughout the state. Colorado Garden Foundation presents the Colorado Fall Home Show focusing on home renovation, remodeling and sustainable living and the Colorado Garden & Home Show, the Rocky Mountain region’s largest, oldest and most prestigious consumer garden and home improvement show west of the Mississippi in February. For more information, visit ColoradoGardenFoundation.org, facebook.com/coloradogardenfoundation or Twitter @cogardenfdn.

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Amy Moynihan
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