The Opportunity Next Colorado program offers a one-time scholarship of up to $1,500 for Colorado’s high school graduates and GED completers in high-priority pathways like construction trades, health professions, education, and more.

The scholarship supports tuition, fees, books, and equipment for the 2024-2025 academic year 

Scholarship Eligibility

• Must be Colorado Class of 2024 high school graduate or GED completer
• Must apply for the FAFSA or CAFSA
• May not concurrently recieve Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) funding

Examples of High-Priority Pathways

• Advanced Manufacturing
• Computer & Information Sciences
• Construction
• Education
• Engineering & Technology
• Family & Social Sciences
• Health Professions
• Transportation

Learn More about Opportunity Next Colorado

PPSC is grateful for the overwhelming generosity the Kane Family Foundation has shown in supporting students here at PPSC.

General Information

This scholarship will cover tuition, fees, and required books for up to four semesters.

Eligibility Information

• • Complete 12+ credits per semester
  • Maintain a 3.0 GPA at PPSC
  • Graduate within two years of starting the program

How to Apply

The Kane Family Foundation scholarship will be open during the regular scholarship application period and can be completed after the general application is submitted.

Watch your email account for scholarship availability announcements!

 

Pikes Peak State College is dedicated to your success. We don't want your financial stressors like paying for food, hygiene, transportation, childcare, textbooks or computers to be a barrier to you reaching your goals. 

We may have scholarships or subsidy programs available to you for these specific needs.

Learn More

These funds provide scholarships for PPSC students pursuing associate degrees in the following fields, with the goal of a career in Public Safety:

• Criminal Justice
• Fire Science
• Emergency Medical Services
• Biology
• Chemistry 

Eligibility Information

• Colorado resident
• Graduated from a Colorado high school within 10 years or honorably discharged from the U.S. Armed Forces within 5 years
• Female students of all racial backgrounds and male students identifying as African-American, Hispanic, or Asian
• Preference for those pursuing careers with Colorado Springs Fire or Police Departments
• Maintain good academic and disciplinary standing at PPSC
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• Enroll full-time (12+ credit hours)

Award Amount

Up to $10,000 over five semesters ($2,000/semester) covering tuition, fees, books, and required course materials. Eligibility depends on meeting minimum requirements

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Contribute toward this scholarship fund:

 Make Contribution to this Scholarship Fund

The scholarship is funded by a generous donation from Bluestaq, LLC, a technology company enabling secure connected global operations through cutting edge enterprise software and mission analytics. 

This scholarship supports students pursuing degrees in Cyber Security, Computer Information Systems, or Computer Sciences.

Eligibility Information

• Enrolled in either Cyber Security, Computer Information Science, or Computer Science with a transfer designation.
• Minimum 2.5 GPA
• US Citizen and Colorado Resident
• Preference for students in their second year of their program 
• Ability to obtain TS/SCI Clearence*

About the Scholarship

Selected students will interview with a PPSC and Bluestaq committee, which will select one interviewee to recieve the scholarship and an offer to participate in the paid summer internship with BlueStaq.

*TS/SCI Clearence

The internship position requires the ability to obtain a TS/SCI Clearance. To be eligible for a clearance, US Citizenship is required, and an employee must agree to participate in a background screen and credit check

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Learn More About BlueStaq

Chef Henry Trujillo Culinary Arts Scholarship

The Chef Henry Trujillo Culinary Arts Scholarship is awarded to PPSC Students pursuing a culinary arts degree and who have successfully completed one semester at PPSC prior to applying.

Eligibility Information

• Be enrolled in a Certificate or Degree in Culinary Arts
• Have completed at least one semester with PPSC
• Qualify to receive In-State Tuition
• Maintain a 2.0 GPA or better
• Have current year FAFSA application on file with the college
• Submit a Recommendation from a chef active in the Pikes Peak Region

Award Amount

 $2,500 for one year, at $1,250 per semester

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Fran Folsom Culinary Arts

The Fran Folsom Culinary Art Scholarship was created to honor Fran Folsom, a culinary legend in our community. This scholarship opportunity is open to Pikes Peak State College students who have completed a minimum of 24 credit hours and are enrolled in the Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry program. 

Eligibility Information

• High school diploma
• One letter of recommendation from a PPSC Culinary Arts Faculty member
• Have and maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher to remain eligible
• Must be eligible for in-state tuition
• Full time student (12 credit hours or more with a minimum of 6 credit hours per semester in the Culinary Arts or Baking and Pastry program at PPSC).
• Upload your most recent PPSC transcript to the scholarship application

Award Amount

 $3,000 for one year, at $1,500 for Fall and $1,500 for Spring semesters

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Alyssa Katherine Mason Memorial  

Alyssa Katherine Mason was a loving and free-spirited woman who enjoyed each day as if it were her last, spending time with her family and doing what she loved.  Tragically, at the young age of 26, she died as the result of an automobile crash.  Alyssa was an outstanding person, with a zeal for life and an undeniable love for others.  She also loved animals so much, perhaps because they are capable of bravery, selflessness, love and loyalty just like her.  In her brief walk on this earth, she met and influenced so many people around her.

Eligibility Information

• Pursuing a Culinary Arts Degree or Certificate
• El Paso County, Colorado resident.
• A current year FAFSA.
• A cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher is required to remain eligible.
• Enrolled in a minimum of 6.0 credit hours.

Award Amount

 $1,000 for Fall and Spring semesters

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Contribute toward these scholarship funds:

Make Contribution to this Scholarship Fund

The Amy Zlochower Smaldone Memorial Scholarship

Amy was an accomplished artist, even though she was only 34 when she succumbed to the devastation of cancer. She was a graduate of the High School of Art and Design in New York City, and for two years attended Queensboro Community College in New York City, where she majored in art. As an artist, Amy had already held a one person show in Colorado Springs and was becoming an artistic success. The Amy Zlochower-Smaldone Memorial Scholarship has been established to continue Amy's dream.

Eligibility Information

• MUST be a second year fine arts major at Pikes Peak State College
• MUST have at least a 3.0 GPA and continue to maintain a 3.0 GPA if selected
• Preference given to students enrolled full-time (a minimum of 12 credit hours).
• Selection will be based upon demonstrated artistic merit, potential, enthusiasm, and prior grades.

Award Amount

$2,000/year. 

Important: In addition to a general application, students who wish to be considered for this Scholarship must submit a supplementary visual arts scholarship application.

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Spencer-Clark Trust Fund Scholarship

JoAnne Spencer-Clark, secretary of the PPSC Foundation in 1990, endowed the Spencer-Clark Scholarship Fund in the names of her two living daughters as well as her son who died in an accident. The endowment will provide for one scholarship in perpetuity in the names of Barbara Jo, Richard C. and Debra Jean Spencer for a second-year art student.
 
Eligibility Information

• MUST be a second year fine arts major at Pikes Peak State College
• MUST have and maintain a 3.0 minimum GPA
• MUST be enrolled full-time (a minimum of 12 credit hours) to remain eligible
• MUST complete the yearly General Application and the Fine Arts Scholarships application.
• Selection will be based upon demonstrated artistic merit, potential, and enthusiasm, and academic merit.
  

Award Amount:

$2000/year. 

Important: In addition to a general application, students who wish to be considered for this Scholarship must submit a supplementary visual arts scholarship application.

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Contribute toward these scholarship funds:

Make Contribution to this Scholarship Fund

The FosterEd program awards funds to qualifying students who have been in foster care or non-certified kinship care in Colorado on or after their 13th birthday.  

General Information

• Must have been in Colorado foster care or non-certified kinship care from age 13 or older.
• Must self-identify with the FosterEd Liaison at PPSC
• Must complete current-year FAFSA or CAFSA application
• There is no age limit on this program and eligible students may receive funding for a maximum of 132 semester credits.  
• ...additional eligibility information can be found on this page

Important: If you’re eligible, contact the PPSC Foster ED Liaison (details below) for help with applications, financial aid, support services, and eligibility.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COLORADO FOSTER ED PROGRAM

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Have Questions about this scholarship or your eligibily?

Jenny Madsen
PPSC Financial Aid Foster Ed Liaison
Jenny.Madsen@PikesPeak.edu
719-502-2153

This program is designed to provide a seamless and structured transfer path for Colorado’s highly motivated students from low-income backgrounds, empowering students to earn both their associate and bachelor’s degree with minimal debt.

General Information

The Reisher Bridge Scholarship Program is made possible through collaborative agreements between CCCS and select Colorado four-year universities.

As a Reisher Bridge Scholar, you can:

• Receive up to $2,000 in your final associate degree year to prepare for a bachelor’s.
• Access mentorship from Reisher Scholarship Navigators, who will guide you to ensure you’re well-prepared.
• Become an ideal candidate for the Reisher Transfer Scholarship, offering awards ranging from $4,000 to $15,000 at one of Colorado’s nine partner universities.

Eligibility Information

• Plan to transfer to one of nine Reisher partner universities after completing an associate degree.
• Enroll in an Associate of Arts or Science program.
• Be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident and a Colorado resident.
• Submit FAFSA and demonstrate financial need.
• Have 30 or fewer credits remaining in your associate degree pathway.
• Maintain a 3.0+ GPA.
• Complete an associate degree by Spring 2026.
• Applications for the 2025-26 cohort accepted until May 1, 2025; awards announced by May 15, 2025.

How to Apply

Visit this webpage for more information.

Note: Applications for the 2025-26 cohort accepted until May 1, 2025; awards announced by May 15, 2025.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Reisher Bridge SCHOLARSHIP

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For more information, contact a Reisher Scholarship Navigator at  ReisherBridge@cccs.edu

Thanks to generous donors, the Foundation for Colorado Community College System (CCCS) offers many scholarship opportunities for students attending or planning to attend any of the 13 Colorado Community College System colleges each academic year.

Select the button below for more information, a list of scholarships, and information on how to apply.

Note: This Scholarship requires a separate application from Internal PPSC Scholarships.

Learn More about CCCS Scholarships