The Latina Scholarship Fund

The SPARKy Promise

Since 2016 when the promise was made, SPARKy has helped send young Latinas to college through The SPARKy Latina Scholarship Fund. The SPARKy Latina Scholarship Fund aims to honor young Latinas and raise awareness of the contributions of Hispanic women in the Telluride region.

We provide scholarships to Latina graduates of Telluride and Norwood High Schools.

Summer Tea 2026

Ten young ladies are starting their 1st year of college:

Arianna Galindo Roca, Loyola University Maryland
Barbara Hinterkopft Scholarship recipient
Abby Vidal, Colorado Mesa UniversityAlison Gutierrez Sanchex, IntelliTec College
Azari Guerrero, Pitzer College
Estrella Nieto Perez, Technical College of the Rockies
Kim Magaña, Colorado Mesa University
Maya Santa Ana, University of Colorado Boulder
Tatiana Ramos, Denver Community College
Valentina Zago Carolei, Pepperdine University
Valeria Hernandez Gonzalez, Colorado Mountain College

Three SPARKy girls graduated from college this year!

Francesca Schillaci leaves Columbia University with a degree in Economics-Statistics and Spanish (double major) She already has a job with a tech startup in New York City.

Ana Lulu Pumayalli, who graduated from Bowdoin College with a degree in Oceanography and Film, is now working full-time as a whale-watching naturalist in California.

Nataly Gonzalez graduated from Regis University with a degree in Clinical Counseling and will start working as a psychologist in Denver.r.

Past Recipients

Aizy Luna Alvarez Lezcano

Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction • 2028

Jai Sanchez

Santa Barbara City College
Santa Barbara, CA • 2028

Bianca Schillaci

University of Pennsylvania
Wharton School
Philadelphia, PA • 2028

Danna Hernandez

Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction • 2028

Angelica Saldin

California State University
Long Beach, CA • 2028

Yoselin Hernandez

Whitman College
Walla Walla • 2027

Francesca Schillaci

Columbia University
New York City • 2026

Ana Lulu Pumayalli

Bowdoin College 
Brunswick, ME • 2026

Karla Gutierrez Ruiz

Fort Lewis College
Durango • 2027

Amy Guerrero

Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction • 2027

Nataly Gonzalez

Regis University
Masters Program Denver • 2025

Karla Camacho

University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh • 2027

Gabby Flores

Mesa State College
Grand Junction • 2026

Jocelyn Nieto

Colorado Mesa University
Grand Junction • 2026

Janette Calvo

Regis University
Graduate Master’s Program
Denver • 2025

Nicole Esquivel

University of Colorado
Boulder • 2025

Brenda Guitierrez

Fort Lewis College
Durango • 2024

Katie Pumayalli

Stanford University
Stanford • 2026

Itary Cortes

Aims Community College
Greeley • 2024

Cindy Matamoros

Western State University
Gunnison • 2022

The Latina Scholarship Fund

Our Mission

SPARKy is committed to providing resources to empower young Latina students to achieve their personal and academic goals.

How We Do It

To accomplish this mission, the SPARKy Latina Scholarship Committee, works collaboratively with the school district, nonprofit organizations, and volunteers.

We support local Latinas by:

  • Preparing Latinas to become college-ready.

  • Exploring college and post-secondary options.

  • Providing access to the resources they need to prepare them for the college and financial application process.

  • Awarding a four-year annually renewable scholarship to a graduating Latina within the Telluride, Norwood or West End districts.

  • Awarding a single or multi-year technical scholarship in pursuit of certification.

  • Support/mentor scholars throughout their higher education experience to encourage the successful completion of their goals.

  • SPARKy scholarship recipients providing mentoring, support, guidance and serving as role models to our young Latinas during their high school years.