Denver Scholarship Foundation Gala celebrating students, scholars and alumni

The Denver Scholarship Foundation’s annual Homecoming Gala on Friday, November 1, 2024, will honor and celebrate the economic impact and achievements of Denver Public Schools high school students, DSF scholarship recipients and alumni.

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

At this year’s Homecoming Gala, the Denver community and DSF supporters will hear stories of school impact through the eyes of DPS graduates in college and early career.

Guests will have the opportunity to engage with the DSF community, learn more about DSF’s nationally recognized programs, and be inspired by past and present students.

DSF will feature DSF alumna and recent graduate of Metropolitan State University Denver, Thaw Sue. She will share her unimaginable 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 Denver with a bachelor’s degree in aviation and space sciences and a concentration in air traffic control. Guests will hear from Thaw and her DSF College and Campus Advisors 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 will include a silent disco, 360° photo booth, evening snacks and drinks. Angelo “DjLo” Fajardo, official DSF DJ and DSF alumnus, will help participants continue the conversation with DSF Scholars and kick off the weekend by celebrating the successes of Denver students.

DSF was founded in 2006 based on the widespread belief that Denver public school students face many barriers to completing postsecondary education. Denver philanthropists Tim and Bernadette Marquez wanted to make a significant gift to raise achievement levels in Denver’s community colleges. Tim and Bernie contributed $50 million in grants to the challenge. They were then joined by former Mayor John Hickenlooper and former DPS Superintendent Michael Bennet to help make higher education accessible to all DPS students today and for generations to come.

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

• The DSF alumni network consists of over 10,600 DPS graduates
• DSF College Counselors have actively worked with over 12,000 DPS students and their families
• This school year, DPS graduates were awarded a new record – over 2,190 scholarships
• Since its founding in 2006, DSF has awarded more than $72 million in need-based scholarships to Denver graduates
• 87 percent of DSF scholarship recipients are first-generation college students, and 92 percent identify as students of color
• 81 percent of DSF scholarship recipients continue their education or graduate
• This school year, DSF expanded support beyond 12 students^vol class, serving over 8,600 9^vol-11^vol DPS classroom students in all 15 DSF Future Centers located in DPS high schools
• DSF has funded the journey to and through college of over 9,000 DPS graduates
• DSF’s network of more than 10,600 alumni represents 30 technical schools, colleges and universities in Colorado

During this 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. Winners and their corporations/organizations will be recognized in the following categories: University Partner, DPS District Partner, Community Partner and Corporate Partner.

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

More information about the 2024 DSF Annual Homecoming Gala can be found here: https://denverscholarship.org/gala.

About the Denver Scholarship Foundation

The Denver Scholarship Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps make college possible and build Denver’s educational and economic future by working with students, families and Denver Public Schools partners across the state to increase access and opportunities to complete post-high school education. while also expanding generational access to career and entrepreneurship opportunities.

DSF achieves this through a nationally recognized, evidence-based, three-part program consisting of a support system, practical tools and scholarships that help students achieve lifelong success. Recognizing the challenges that DPS graduates continue to face when enrolling in college, as well as the challenges that arise once enrolled, DSF’s full-time college advisors have actively worked with all DPS 9^vol-12^vol graders at DSF Future Centers located in DPS secondary schools. Full-time DSF Campus Advisors also provide support to DSF Fellows at the Auraria Campus. DSF has built a comprehensive platform for continuous support for students, starting from DPS high schools through educational paths leading to a life of freedom and choice.

This article was paid for by a partnership in kind.