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ENMU Foundation awards scholarships

STAFF WRITER

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link Staff photo: Joshua Lucero

Eastern New Mexico University student Anna George receives the Alpha Psi Omega Endowment for Theatre Arts and Digital Cinema Arts scholarship from ENMU Foundation President Stephen Doerr Tuesday afternoon during the Endowment Scholarship and Awards Ceremony at the Campus Union Building.

For Eastern New Mexico University senior Desiree Cooper, the school’s annual Endowed Scholarships and Awards Ceremony allows her to focus on learning.

The annual awards ceremony, organized by the ENMU Foundation, took place Tuesday afternoon and delivered scholarships to students from each of the university’s colleges.

ENMU Foundation Executive Director Noelle Bartl said the Foundation was established in 1978 and began the scholarship ceremony shortly after it came into existence.

Bartl said 367 scholarships were given out during Tuesday’s ceremony, totaling more than $290,000.

Cooper, who received two scholarships Tuesday, said the money from her foundation scholarships helps her to not worry about money during school and lessens the amount of debt she will take on after she graduates.

Cooper said she, like all of the students who received scholarships Tuesday, applied for scholarships that she qualified for in hopes of being chosen.

Bartl said the scholarships are established by organizations and by those looking to honor individuals who have been exceptional in their area of expertise.

Each scholarship has a criteria that students must meet and the most qualified candidate is chosen.

The organizations and individuals that distribute the scholarships select the scholarship recipients each year.

Cooper is a third generation Greyhound and qualified because of her academic standing and her parents and grandparents alumni status.

Cooper said she thinks it is important students apply for the scholarships to help them pay for school.

Bartl said the education board’s goal is to help students graduate with less debt than their peers graduating at other universities around the country.

“I wish we could give more,” Bartl said. “There are so many students who have put in the effort.”

Bartl said the scholarship money students received during Tuesday’s ceremony will be distributed to their student accounts beginning the fall 2015 semester.