Award Recipients 

Maintaining a GPA of 3.9 at the University of Colorado Denver, working towards a bachelor’s in biology with the intention of going to graduate school to get a master's in Neuroscience research. Prioritizing education while caring for and raising an amazing daughter. Hopes to spread philanthropic values outside of education. 

My name is Marquita Woods, and I am currently attending Colorado State University and majoring in English Education. I'm originally from Memphis, Tennessee, but I have been calling Colorado home since 2015, where I’ve been blessed with my beautiful daughter, Miss Imani Marchè Lee.

Kayla DeLong is a single mom of two elementary school children, and she is a middle school language arts teacher. After teaching for 11 years, in a spirit of overcoming trials and odds, Kayla is striving for a PhD in Technology, Innovation, and Pedagogy at the University of Northern Colorado. 

My name is Deborah Collins and I am native to Colorado. Currently, I live in Northglenn, CO with my two children: my daughter Adalina is 17 and my son Oscar is 12. Adalina works for Walmart Neighborhood Market part-time and is beginning her senior year in high school as first chair clarinet in band with so many post-secondary options to choose from that will pave a bright road for her future. Oscar is beginning the seventh grade and is eager to try new things and spend time in the classroom.  I have been a single, hardworking, full-time student and mother for 4 years. I will graduate in December 2021 with my BA in Special Education. I am student teaching in the Fall and was already offered a full-time, permanent position at Silver Hills Middle School as an SSN (significant support needs) teacher for sixth graders! We have been through a tremendous amount of hardships but as my destiny begins to reveal itself, life feels better than I ever imagined possible.