Denver Scholarship Foundation Gala Honors Students, Scholars and Alumni

The Denver Scholarship Foundation’s annual Homecoming Gala on Friday, November 1, 2024 will highlight the economic contributions and achievements of Denver Public Schools seniors, DSF scholarship recipients and alumni.

Denver7 is a proud partner of the Denver Scholarship Fund and Homecoming Gala. The station is honored to be recognized as DSF Community Partner of the Year at this event.

At this year’s Homecoming Gala, Denver residents and DSF supporters will hear stories of impact through the lens of DPS alumni in college and early career.

Guests will have the opportunity to interact with the DSF community, learn more about DSF’s nationally recognized programs, and gain great inspiration from former and current students.

The DSF program will feature DSF alumna and recent Metropolitan University of Denver graduate Tou Sue. She will share her incredible journey from a refugee camp in Thailand to George Washington High School and her inspiring story as a first-generation college student who graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver with a bachelor’s degree in aviation and aerospace sciences with a concentration in aviation. Traffic control. Guests will hear Thaw and her DSF college and campus advisors talk about the impact DSF has had on her family.

Returning this year is the DSF Homecoming Gala After Party, which will take place immediately following the program and includes a silent disco, panoramic photo booth, and late-night snacks and drinks. Angelo “DjLo” Fajardo, official DSF DJ and DSF alumnus, will help event attendees continue to connect with DSF Scholars and kick off the weekend by celebrating the successes of Denver students.

DSF was founded in 2006 based on widespread recognition that Denver Public Schools students face multiple barriers to higher education. Denver philanthropists Tim and Bernadette Marquez wanted to make a major gift to boost college enrollment in Denver. Tim and Bernie pledged $50 million in competitive grant funding. They were then joined by former Mayor John Hickenlooper and former DPS Superintendent Michael Bennett to help make access to higher education possible for all DPS students today and for generations to come.

The most current statistics below show DSF’s reach as an organization and its long-term impact on the Denver community:

• More than 10,600 DPS alumni make up the DSF Alumni Network.
• DSF College Counselors have worked extensively with more than 12,000 DPS students and their families.
• This academic year, DPS graduates were awarded a new record of more than 2,190 scholarships.
• Since its founding in 2006, DSF has awarded more than $72 million in scholarships to Denver alumni.
• 87 percent of DSF Fellows are first-generation college students, and 92 percent identify as students of color.
• 81 percent of DSF Fellows are still in college or have graduated from college.
• This school year, DSF has expanded support beyond K-12^th get an estimate for the number of services over 8600 9^th-11^th evaluate DPS students at all 15 DSF Future Centers located on DPS high school campuses
• DSF has funded travel for more than 9,000 DPS graduates to and from college.
• DSF’s network of more than 10,600 alumni represents 30 technical colleges, community colleges and universities in Colorado.

During the Homecoming Gala, DSF will also recognize its 2024 Partners of the Year, nominated and selected by DSF employees for their contributions to DSF’s mission. These winners and their corporations/organizations will be recognized in the following categories: College Partner, DPS District Partner, Community Partner and Corporate Partner.

Every dollar donated to support this year’s Gala will match the Colorado Scholarship Initiative (COSI), a program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education and enhanced through the Denver Prosperity Fund.

Find out more about the 2024 DSF Annual Homecoming Gala here: https://denverscholarship.org/gala.

About the Denver Scholarship Fund

The Denver Scholarship Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps make college possible and build Denver’s educational and economic future by working with Denver Public Schools high school students, families and partners across the state to expand access to and completion of post-secondary education, and expand generational exposure to career and entrepreneurial opportunities.

DSF achieves this through its nationally recognized, evidence-based, three-part program consisting of a support system, powerful tools and scholarships that help students achieve lifelong success. Recognizing the challenges that DPS graduates continue to face as they enter college, as well as the challenges that arise after matriculation, DSF’s staff college counselors have worked extensively with all DPS 9.^th-12^th students at DSF Future Centers located on DPS high school campuses. DSF Campus Staff Advisors also provide support to DSF Fellows at the Auraria Campus. DSF has created a comprehensive platform of ongoing support for students, from DPS high schools to educational pathways leading to a life of freedom and choice.

This article was paid for through an in-kind partnership.