Guardian Scholars & Scholarship Program

Together we can create a world of hope for the future.

Scholarship Overview

We believe that there is no better gift than the gift of education. Education breaks down barriers, opens doors that would otherwise be closed, and enables all children to reach their highest potential. Still, higher education is not an option for everyone. Many children in Eagle County lack the resources or support systems necessary to pursue the level of education they desire. The Youth Foundation bridges these gaps of resources and support through a combination of pre-collegiate programming, scholarship collaboration, and the Guardian Scholars program. Our pre-collegiate and scholarship programs help students to envision their dreams and seize the vast opportunities before them.

DREAM First Pre-Collegiate Program

DREAM First serves students between 7th and 12th grade who are among the first generation of their family likely to go to college. The program consists of year-round workshops, field trips, and guest speakers that help participants to envision and believe in a successful future.  DREAM First initially supports students’ transition from middle school to high school and then from high school to college and beyond. Participants learn about and plan for success in high school, college, and eventually, the workforce. They learn about financial literacy, saving for college, career exploration, resume writing, interview skills, and workplace manners and expectations. As a result, students are prepared and excited to pursue higher education and a productive career.

Guardian Scholars

Guardian Scholars is a full-ride scholarship program for Eagle County students that come from the foster care system or other significant displacement obstacles. The comprehensive model maximizes state and federal financial aid, foundation financial support, and donor support in order to provide full scholarships to all college-ready students fitting the specific criteria of the program. In addition, The Youth Foundation and on-campus advisors provide students with the emotional support and guidance they need to be successful.

The Guardian Scholars model, initially founded by Ron and Lucy Davis in Orange County, California, has received national recognition for its financial leverage and graduation success rate among disadvantaged youth. The program targets students who have already overcome significant hardships and supports them in reaching their highest potential. Guardian Scholars graduate with an immense sense of accomplishment, dedication to the community, and drive to achieve their dreams.

The Youth Foundation continues to stay in close contact with each scholar, offering the emotional support, guidance, and encouragement they need to successfully enter the workforce and adjust to adult life on their own. We are more than a scholarships, we are a family. Making dreams come true.

Community Scholars

In 2001, several Eagle Valley scholarship sponsors came together to advocate for broader access to higher education for Eagle County students. In order to make sure that all students have equal access, a single scholarship application was developed. The collective group believes that while higher education is a big challenge, every student who has the desire to work toward a college degree should have that opportunity. The Eagle River Valley Scholarship Collaboration is working to make the dream of higher education a reality for as many students as possible.

While there are scholarships for 4-year university programs, the scholarship collaboration realizes that that is not in the plans for many students. The scholarship committee takes this into account and has awarded scholarships to students with less traditional career goals as well, including community college and vocational programs. Each scholarship donor develops their own criteria, and individual considerations and requests are respected. The collaborative scholarship application is accessible for every high school graduate in our community. The Collaborative is made up of:

• Alexander J. Allen Trust Scholarship
• American Gypsum
• Bond-McCoy Community Scholarship
• Buckman Mollerup Opportunity
• Crissa Lea Swinford Memorial Scholarship
• Eagle Lion’s Club Scholarship
• Eagle River Scholarship Fund/Grant of Aid
• Edwards Fund Scholarship
• Gypsum Fire District
• Hopper Scholarship
• Lynn Janklow Scholarship
• Minturn VFW Post 10721
• Project Graduation – BMHS
• Vail Chapter of P.E.O.
• Vail-Edwards-Eagle Rotary Clubs Scholarships
• Vail Resorts ECO Scholarship
• Vail Summit Orthopaedics Scholarship

Vail Valley Foundation Scholarships

An advanced degree is more important than ever, but college tuition can be out of reach for many. Established by the Vail Valley Foundation in 1992, the scholarship program has grown to the largest collegiate scholarship effort in the Vail Valley, with a total of $1.4 million raised. The Vail Valley Foundation awards a variety of scholarships, including the Vail Valley Foundation four-year scholarship, the Les Streeter-Walter Kirch Memorial Scholarship, the Helmut Fricker Scholarship Fund, the June S. Kang Love of the Arts Scholarship, along with up to 10 Karri Casner scholarships annually for students attending Colorado Mountain College.