Every year the Daniels Fund scholarship is awarded to graduating high school seniors in the states of Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The scholarship is awarded annually to students who demonstrate exceptional character, leadership, and commitment to serving their communities. Greeley West senior Yovahn Quiñones is nothing short of these characteristics and was awarded this honor earlier in the month of March.

The Daniels Fund Scholarship offers a comprehensive, four-year college scholarship that provides financial and personal support focused on helping Daniels Scholars succeed in college and life. The Daniels Scholarship can be used at any accredited non-profit college or university in the United States.

Nearly 2,000 students applied to be Daniels Scholars, and only 240 of them have received this distinguished scholarship. Of the 240 students selected as this year’s Daniels Scholars, 135 are from Colorado.

Quiñones is one of three recipients in all of Greeley (Greeley Central and Dayspring Christian Academy also had winners). 

Quiñones was awarded the scholarship during Spring Break on Tuesday, March 16. He was shocked to have received the award. “I never thought I’d come close to such an opportunity and I think a lot of people can say the same,” said Quiñones.

He doesn’t feel like he’d be the type of person to receive such an award but is, “extremely grateful for everyone that helped [him] through the process.”

Receiving this scholarship is truly life-changing for Quiñones and his family. He feels that after all that his parents have done for him, he can give them something in return – a break from having to help him financially continue his education. “My parents work so hard for me that I’ve always felt in debt to them and this scholarship has filled that void,” Quiñones said. 

With a big scholarship like this comes big responsibilities. There are certain requirements that the Daniels Fund Scholars need to maintain to keep their scholarship for all four years. “ There are many requirements to maintain the scholarship for four years – from maintaining a certain grade point average to even maintaining a job! This scholarship can seem to be rigorous , but I believe I’m capable of maintaining it,” said Quiñones.

Quiñones plans to attend CU Boulder in the fall semester, where he will put his scholarship to use as a Business Marketing major. He said,“without this scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to attend such a school for my major. And I’m so happy to be able to do this.”