Elevations Foundation Scholarships
Scholarships for worthy students.
Elevations Foundation proudly supports scholarship initiatives for local graduating high school seniors in their pursuit of higher education. All Elevations Foundation scholarship recipients have a proven track record in academics and community engagement, but most importantly they have a financial need. This is a primary focus area of the Foundation that will continue in perpetuity.
Scholarship details:
You can apply online for Elevations Foundation's scholarships:
Application cycle open from January 1 to March 1, 2023
Recipients will be notified in April
Scholarship awards will be presented in May

Elevations Foundation Scholarships

M.R. Hellie Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship was established in honor of M.R. Hellie, Elevations Credit Union’s President from 1964 to 1986. Through his vision and leadership, Mr. Hellie was instrumental in expanding Elevations Credit Union’s member services and furthering the national credit union movement.

Don E. Neuburger Memorial Scholarship
Established in 1988 by the Board of Directors of the Longs Peak Credit Union, this scholarship honors Don E. Neuburger. Mr. Neuburger served as Founder and CEO of Longs Peak Credit Union for 35 years. Mr. Neuburger, an electrical engineer by training, established the credit union in 1952 to serve the employees of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation in northern Colorado.

Wm. C. “Bill” Sterner Memorial Scholarship
This scholarship is named in honor of Wm. C. “Bill” Sterner, Elevations Credit Union’s President and CEO from 2000 to 2008. Mr. Sterner epitomized the spirit of the credit union movement and was active in the movement at all levels: state and local as well as national and international. Mr. Sterner’s passion for credit unions was rooted in volunteerism, education and consumer advocacy.

Elevations Foundation Trade School Scholarship
Established in 2022, this scholarship recognizes the need for students to have alternatives to the 4-year college or university track. This scholarship has been created to assist those students seeking valuable experience and training in the trades.

The Bennett Family Trade School Scholarship
Established in 2022 by Ian Bennett and Jill McCarthy, this scholarship recognizes the need for students to have trade school training as an alternative to the 4-year college or university track. This scholarship has been created to assist those students seeking valuable experience and training in the trades.

The Buffs4Life 2nd Gen Scholarship
Since 2005, the Buffs4Life Foundation has been dedicated to honoring the memory of Anthony Weatherspoon “Spoon”, a former CU Boulder student-athlete, through a legacy of giving, partnership, and support to former University of Colorado athletes and their families. Established in 2023, Buffs4Life is available to the offspring of former athletic letter winners at the University of Colorado.
Elevations Foundation Scholarships
Name | Amount | Who can apply? |
---|---|---|
M.R. Hellie Memorial Scholarship | $1,000 to $5,000 | High school seniors attending an accredited Colorado high school who are applying for or have been accepted for admission to a college or university. |
Don E. Neuburger Memorial Scholarship | $1,000 to $5,000 | High school seniors attending an accredited high school in the Thompson School District. |
Wm. C. “Bill” Sterner Memorial Scholarship | $1,000 to $5,000 | High school seniors attending an accredited Colorado high school who are applying for and planning to attend the University of Colorado Boulder. |
Elevations Foundation Trade School Scholarship | $1,000 to $5,000 | High school seniors attending an accredited high school who are applying for or have been accepted for admission to an accredited trade school. |
The Bennett Family Trade School Scholarship | $2,000 | High school seniors attending an accredited high school who are applying for or have been accepted for admission to an accredited trade school. |
Apply now for an Elevations Foundation scholarship or scroll down to see our partner scholarships.
Application materials for Elevations Foundation scholarships:
Why am I applying for an Elevations Foundation scholarship? Why do I want to go to college, and what influenced my decision?
We recommend identifying your personal interests and career goals, and provide information relevant to achieving them. This may include educational accomplishments, volunteerism, extracurricular activities or work experience.
Please provide email addresses for two people (other than family members) who can provide recommendations supporting your commitment to your goals.
Please provide a copy of your high school transcript in your application.
This document is issued after submission of the FAFSA application. It serves as a summary of the application, lists information you provided on your FAFSA and includes the Estimated Family Contribution (EFC). Download your report at FAFSA’s website(opens in a new window): Look under “FAFSA Follow-up” and select “Print your student aid report.” Do not include the entire FAFSA application; only submit the SAR.
Please note: DACA recipients and Colorado ASSET (Advancing Students for a Stronger Tomorrow) students can submit a copy of their (CASFA) Colorado Application for State Financial Aid form found here(opens in a new window). Please see Colorado Application for State Financial Aid Website(opens in a new window) for more information.
If you have not yet received a letter of acceptance, obtain a letter from your counselor stating the name of the college or university and the date the application for admission was mailed.
Photos are for use in Elevations Foundation promotional materials and will not be shared with the review committee.
If you are selected to receive an Elevations Foundation scholarship, you will need to be a member of Elevations Credit Union if you are not already one. You may join after being notified of your award.

Elevations Foundation has provided $644,950 in scholarship funds since 2010.
Elevations Foundation Partner Scholarships

Peter Wayne Reicks Memorial Scholarship
Established in 2021 in honor of Pete Reicks, Elevations’ Chief Strategy & Performance Officer, the Peter Wayne Reicks Memorial Scholarship memorializes Pete’s passion for audacious excellence, eternal optimism, and the far-reaching impact he made as a champion of the Baldridge Performance Excellence Framework. Pete championed a culture of innovation, and his legacy of leadership epitomizes the Leeds mission to inspire and educate the next generation of business leaders.
Learn more about the Peter Wayne Reicks Memorial Scholarship(opens in a new window)

Rhonda Herrman Community Involvement Scholarship
This scholarship was established in honor of Rhonda Herrman, an employee of the St. Vrain Valley Credit Union who established the Community Involvement Committee as a way to give back to the communities that the credit union served.
Apply for the Rhonda Herrman Community Involvement Scholarship(opens in a new window)

Poudre School District AVID Scholarship
High school seniors in the Poudre School District who participate in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program are eligible to apply. The AVID program prepares students for college eligibility and success by developing writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading skills. Typically, students participating in elective AVID classes are the first in their families to attend college, and many are from low-income or minority families.
Scholarship applications will be available for eligible AVID students in the counseling center of their Poudre School District high school.
Elevations Foundation Partner Scholarships
Name | Amount | Who can apply? |
---|---|---|
Peter Wayne Reicks Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 | Students in their junior year at the Leeds School of Business who have elected the Operations Management track. Applications for this scholarship will be managed and selected by the Leeds School of Business. |
Rhonda Herrman Community Involvement Scholarship | Two $1,000 scholarships | Graduating high school seniors in the St. Vrain Valley School District who plan to enroll as a full-time student at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or trade school. Applicants are required to have at least 75 hours of volunteer or community service over the past 12 months and are also selected based on financial need. |
AVID Scholarship | $2,000 | High school seniors in the Poudre School District who participate in the Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program are eligible to apply. |

“I am so grateful that I took the time and made the effort because receiving the scholarship has been a huge blessing.” – Micah Hinson, 2018 scholarship recipient

ELEVATIONS FOUNDATION
Opportunities for a better community.
Elevations Foundation is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that has provided over $1.5 million in community resources in the form of scholarships to graduating seniors for higher education, community grants to local nonprofit organizations and emergency assistance.

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Want to learn more about the important work of Elevations Foundation? Visit our blog to read our latest Elevations Foundation Grantee Profiles, plus catch up on other Foundation news.