News
Luna students earn LANL scholarships
Five Luna Community College students are among 28 northern New Mexico students selected to receive $62,250 in Career Pathways Scholarships awarded by the Los Alamos National Laboratory Foundation.
Luna’s honorees include Pauline Medina, an early childhood education major from Mora County; Magen Venckus, a vocational studies major from Santa Fe County; and San Miguel County residents John Montoya, nursing; Masie Estep, early childhood education; and Raymond Chavez, barbering.
With a $9,000 increase over the previous cycle, this was the largest amount ever presented to recipients of this scholarship. These students were chosen from an inspiring and competitive group of 70 applicants.
The Career Pathways Scholarship is available to those who have earned a high school diploma or GED/High School Equivalency, including nontraditional students and recent high school graduates, to help fund a two-year associate’s degree, professional certification or trade. Previously, awards were capped at $1,500 dollars (one year of funding at $750 per semester) and scholarships were nonrenewable, although students could reapply for a second year of funding.
This year, students were eligible for up to two years of funding, with second-year renewability contingent on the student making progress toward completion of a degree or certificate.
“We were able to award more Career Pathways Scholarships this cycle due to an increase in donations to this fund and the newly established Needs-Based Scholarship Fund,” said Mike Ammerman, LANL Foundation Scholarship program manager. “Many people are moved to support these specific scholarships because they know their donation will make a significant impact in the lives of those in our community who need it most. Without these scholarships, many of our recipients would have to put their dreams on hold. The generosity of our donors quite literally makes dreams come true.”
Contributions from Los Alamos National Laboratory employees and support from Triad National Security provide most of the Career Pathways funding, with additional support from community members via the LANL Foundation website: www.lanlfoundation.org/give