Lakewood Student Wins Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Scholarship

From Credit Union of Colorado Foundation

Credit Union of Colorado Foundation is proud to announce the 2026 winners of its annual college scholarship program. The Foundation awarded 15 students with annual scholarships totaling $110,000 in tuition assistance for the 2026/2027 school year. Lakewood winner, Gemma McIntyre, will use the scholarship to help pay for her education at Colorado Mesa University.

“We are honored to support students across Colorado as they pursue their educational and career goals,” says Phil Smith, board chair of the Credit Union of Colorado Foundation and president and CEO of Credit Union of Colorado. “This year’s scholarship recipients have demonstrated exceptional dedication, perseverance, and potential. Through our continued investment in education, we are proud to help empower the next generation of leaders, professionals, and community changemakers.”

Scholarship eligibility was extended to students who are Colorado residents enrolled in, or scheduled to enter, an accredited college or university as an undergraduate taking at least 12 credit hours per semester. Candidates were required to maintain a minimum 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale in high school or during the previous 12 months as a college undergraduate. Students were also required to submit an essay that explained their financial need for this scholarship assistance.

This year’s scholarship winners include:

● Abdumalik Abdurakhmonov, Aurora – attending University of Colorado Denver

● Osvaldo Garcia Barron, Boulder – attending Pitzer College

● Reyna Vazquez Dircio, Commerce City – attending Arizona College of Nursing

● Abigail Garza, Brighton – attending University of Colorado Boulder

● Sydney Gollihare, Colorado Springs – attending Creighton University

● Ariella Maroni, Fort Collins – attending Duke University

● Emalisa Martinez, Denver – attending Loyola University Chicago

● Gemma McIntyre, Lakewood – attending Colorado Mesa University

● Blessing Ngalame, Denver – attending Washington University St. Louis

● Dante Osuna-Hughes, Aurora – attending University of Colorado Boulder

● Abigail Ruiz, Denver – attending Yale University

● Lauren Staples, Pueblo West – attending Colorado School of Mines

● Clayre Wagner, Pueblo West – attending University of Denver

● Emmaline Warner, Carbondale – attending Western Colorado University

● Jeffrey Xu, Thornton – attending University of Colorado Boulder

About Credit Union of Colorado Foundation Founded in 2012, Credit Union of Colorado Foundation supports education through college scholarships and educator grants reflecting the credit union’s long history of philanthropic commitment to its members and their communities, dating back to the credit union’s beginnings in 1934.