The Daniels Fund has announced its largest-ever class of Daniels Scholars – 200 deserving young people hailing from dozens of high schools and communities across Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Created through the generosity of the late cable entrepreneur Bill Daniels, the Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program (DCPSP) provides full, four-year “unmet need” scholarships to selected students, allowing them to attend any college or university in the United States.

The recipients include 87 students from Denver Public Schools (full list below).

“This is an outstanding group of young people. The Board of Directors and staff of the Daniels Fund are proud to partner with them as they fulfill their dreams of attending and succeeding in college,” said Hank Brown, President and CEO of the Daniels Fund.

Daniels Scholars are selected on the basis of financial need, academic promise, maturity, leadership potential, and the potential to contribute to their communities. “Throughout his life, Bill Daniels helped students, who otherwise might not attend, achieve the dream of a college education,” explained Carrie Besnette, Daniels Fund Vice President and Director of the Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program. “We seek out promising and motivated students determined to succeed in life, but lacking financial and other resources to continue their education,” she added.

Currently, almost 400 Daniels Scholars attend over 115 college and universities around the country with a 96% retention and persistence rate.

With the 200 additional scholars just announced, 600 students will have been named Daniels Scholars.

The Daniels College Prep Program provides college preparatory programming through a series of seminars during the spring semester of the junior year, a multi-day summer workshop prior to the senior year, and includes assistance in completing college financial aid and scholarship applications.

Students who successfully complete the college preparatory program are eligible to apply for college scholarships through the Daniels Fund. Daniels Fund scholarships cover all unmet need after federal, state, and other financial aid has been determined. In addition to tuition, room and board, Daniels Scholars receive a laptop computer, health benefits, transportation costs to and from the university, and caring support while they are in college.

Committees of Daniels Fund staff, volunteers, and community leaders in each state helped select this year’s class of Daniels Scholars.

The Daniels Scholars from Utah will be selected in 2005.

The Daniels Fund oversees the Daniels College Prep and Scholarship Program and the Daniels Fund Grants Program in Colorado, New Mexico, Wyoming and Utah. The Fund was established in 1998 by Bill Daniels, a pioneer in cable television known for his personal philanthropy and concern for others. Visit www.danielsfund.org for more information.
Denver Public School scholarship recipients are:

• Abraham Lincoln High School: Diana Blanco, Thao Dao, Lucerito Elizondo, Isela Galvan, Michelle Lovato, Dien Nguyen, Janira Pacheco, Gonzalo Quintana, Juan Rocha, Doan Tran, Brian Valero
• East High School: Kaurel Bentley, Ashley Boling, Tyrell Donaldson, Nafia Hamilton, Jamal Hussein, Joyce Joseph, Shantell Ndem, Fatuma Noor, Destinee Rivera-Ashley
• North High School: Miguel Arceo, Dawn Archuleta, Eva Bonilla, Patricia Casillas, Alecia Kranz, Lizzeth Nevarez, Victor Nevarez, Michael Van Houten
• Denver School of the Arts: Malik Daniels, Erica Parish-Diaz, Tory Schneider, Monique Threet, Brittany Vannoy, Danielle Vialpando
• South High School: Eulalio Alonzo, Juanis Lual, Laura Martinez. Yvonne Morales, Andrew Nguyen, Hai Pham, Sada Shami
• West High School: Daisy Cortez, Shukri Faki, Qiana Flores, Bernadette Gallegos, Franklin Hau Chi, Alberta Hernandez, Norma Lee, Pamula Lee, Jamal Long Soldier, Briana Lucero, Katherine Ludeman, Dzuy Nguyen, Alejandra Reyes, Gerald Trujillo
• Emily Griffith Opportunity School: Alisha Aukerman
• Florence Crittenton High School: Yvonne Gimer
• George Washington High School: Antuan Adams-Jones, Morgan Anderson, Ashley Clements, Tiffany Cobb, Courtney Empson-Whaley, Vy Ho, Kelley Jackson, Cuong Nguyen, Hong Nguyen, Phuong Lan Nguyen, Zemzem Said, Corey Scott, Hanna Smith, Che' Starks, Shehila Rae Stephens
• John F. Kennedy High School: Kathy Dam, Louie Lucero, Hien Nguyen, Christa Turner
• Manual Complex: Candi CdeBaca, Manuel Ceballos, Armando Garcia, Robert Icasiano, Shontel Lewis, Armando Martinez
• Montbello High School: Jennifer Cherry, Celriece Law
• P.S. 1 Charter: Martha Saenz, Ashley Swagerty, Ariana Wright