Junior Achievement-Rocky Mountain Inc. offers college scholarships in the amount of $8,000 each; this scholarship will consist of four yearly payments of $2,000. At the end of each school year, the applicant will be required to submit a college transcript and a brief essay on how the scholarship will benefit the student in the following year. Requirements:

The scholarships awarded during the 2009-2010 school year would not have been possible without the generosity of the following donors:

2010 Scholarship Recipients

2009 Scholarship Recipients

JORDAN MEER (Cherry Creek High School)
Attending University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jordan exhibited creativity and entrepreneurship at a young age. Once, he almost sold his little brother at a garage sale! Though Junior Achievement does not endorse selling your siblings, it does encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, which Jordan displays in abundance. He participated in JA Business Week for three summers, and ended up partnering with one of the guest speakers and a fellow student to start an online business. He has also incubated four businesses on his own: an eBay business, a blog, an advertising business, and a website outsourcing firm.

Jordan Meer recently graduated with a 4.7 GPA and two years of full AP and Honors classes under his belt. His impressive ACT score of 33 would lead a person to believe that Jordan was strictly a bookworm; however, this is not the case. Jordan participated in numerous activities and clubs during his high school career, and volunteered with several agencies.

Jordan has also given back substantially to his community. Though his middle-class family has experienced severe financial and emotional burdens, this did not stop him from fundraising over $6,000 for schools in Haiti, the Children’s Museum, and domestic violence prevention.

His plans include studying entrepreneurship, Spanish and environmental science at UNC – Chapel Hill. Jordan eventually plans to pursue “green entrepreneurship” after college.

ISAAC SOLANO (North HS)
Attending University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin

Isaac grew up with grandparents who had an 8th grade education and limited resources, after his mother was killed when he was a young boy. Though he didn’t have much, and all of his friends were turning into prisoners, teen fathers and drug users, Isaac learned to say no while resisting the urge to judge others. He became a role model for other students at North, encouraging them to get involved in school and reach their full potential.

Isaac Solano has been involved with Junior Achievement since he was a freshman at North High School. He participated in JA Business Week for two summers, competed in the JA Stock Market Challenge, and represented his fellow participants as a JA Ambassador. As an Ambassador, Isaac spoke at the Colorado Business Hall of Fame and Stock Market Challenge events.

Isaac’s entrepreneurial spirit and caring heart led him to start the Ethics Club at North, which gave back to the community with canned food drives and other activities. For this venture, Isaac received the 2008 Colorado’s National Philanthropy Day Outstanding Youth Award, though he modestly minimized his personal contributions while redirecting the applause to his fellow students and adult sponsors.

Isaac maintained a 4.17 GPA while working after-school as a concessions food server. He credits Junior Achievement with teaching him that “giving back to one’s own community is a crucial part of business,” and he plans to return to Denver one day as mayor.

ROBERT ORTEGA (North High School)
Attending University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado

Seven years ago, a boy promised his grandmother that he would pursue a higher education. Although she has since passed away, the promise he made has inspired Robert Ortega to not only graduate from high school, but also to go to college.

Robert has been a ward of the state for the past two years, living in a foster home with eight other children. Growing up, his mom worked two jobs to make a living for Robert and his brothers and sisters, with his dad nowhere in sight. Despite his rocky childhood, Robert was determined to make something of himself.

In the summer of 2006, Robert attended JA Business Week and has attended the program ever since. Since that first JA program as a freshman, Robert sought out more opportunities to get involved, and joined the JA Stock Market Challenge and JA Company Program on Saturdays at his school. He was a quiet leader, and credits fellow student Isaac Solano for getting and keeping him headed in the right direction.

Not only has Robert found a passion for business, he is also fascinated by the arts and using creativity to make a difference. He co-wrote, directed and acted in a school wide cultural play called “El Dia De Los Muertos,” where he tackled the issue of school violence and challenged his peers to rise above gang violence and destructive choices.

Robert plans to study communication at UNC, and with the help of this scholarship, he can focus on his studies as well as continuing to give back to society.

CHARLISA MAXEY (CEC Middle College)
Attending Saint Augustine College in Raleigh, North Carolina

What hasn’t Charlisa Maxey accomplished in high school? Her impressive resume includes FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) President for two years, Lead for the Safe Denver Program, serving the elderly, participating in Cancer Walk for Life – all while working part-time, after school and over the summer.

Since she was a little girl, Charlisa saw how her family struggled to make ends meet. Growing up with a dad that came in and out of her life made it tough on her. She told herself from that point on, that she was going to go to college to have a better life for herself and her family. With the support of her grandmother, whom she now lives with, Charlisa has kept her word and plans to study business management in college.

Charlisa learned a lot about business from her many JA programs in school and at the JA Business Week summer program, from how to manage her money, to shaking hands with CEOs of local companies. She also says that she has learned to have good ethics, and what it takes to make and keep a business going.

She is an inspiration to young African-American women, showing them they too can succeed if they work hard and stick to it. She has taken every opportunity that has come her way, and doesn’t let obstacles become an excuse.

2008 Scholarship Recipients

AKEELAH HARRELL (Brighton High School)
Attending Howard University in Washington, DC

Akeelah Harrell is a 19 year old recent graduate of Brighton High School. Akeelah epitomizes the kind of student the JA Inspiration Scholarship is designed to foster and support: she is talented, bright, determined, and most importantly, she possesses the rare kind of motivation to succeed that emanates from deep within her.

Beginning very early in her life, Akeelah and her family faced difficult struggles and tough circumstances, including financial hardship that at one point seemed insurmountable. When Akeelah was young, her parents divorced, leaving Akeelah's mother, Sheila, as a single parent and sole provider for Akeelah and her younger sister. Determined to give her two young daughters every opportunity to succeed in life, Sheila Harrell relocated her family from Georgia to Colorado and began to build a new life for three of them.

At the tender age of fourteen, Akeelah became determined to help raise herself and her family above the trials and tribulations they faced, and with the love and support of her family, that is exactly what she has accomplished. By working hard and never losing hope or focus, Akeelah has accomplished a great deal in her young life. In May, she graduated from Brighton High School as an honors student with a 3.5 GPA. Throughout her high school career, Akeelah remained active in extracurricular activities and in her community. Seeing an opportunity to address the needs a population in her school that she viewed as underserved and unrepresented, Akeelah founded the African-American Student Union. This fall, Akeelah began her studies at Howard University in Washington, DC, where she hopes to study international business and political science, and eventually go on to law school.

Akeelah credits her passion for education, and her intended focus on business and law, in part to her experience at JA Business Week. "(Through JA Business Week) I have learned life skills that I will treasure throught my educational journey," Akeelah says.

PHIL TRINH (Pinnacle Charter School)
Attending The University of Denver in Denver, Colorado

Phil Trinh, 18, is currently attending his first semester as a college student at the University of Denver, majoring in Computer Engineering. Phil graduated from Pinnacle Charter School in May, where he showcased his outstanding talents and skills both inside and outside the classroom. His commitment to education, community, and the environment are just a few reasons why Junior Achievement is proud to present Phil with a 2008 JA Inspiration Scholarship.

Phil became involved with Junior Achievement by participating in the JA Business Week program, a week-long business and leadership program for high school students. Phil attributes his interest in JA and business to his desire to help his family. Phil's aunt and uncle own and operate an Asian grocery store. Their business keeps them so busy that they rarely have time to take a vacation or spend time with their children. Phil hopes that, by studying business, he will be able to step in and help run the store, so his aunt and uncle can eventually take some time for themselves.

Phil excelled as a student at Pinnacle Charter School, graduating with an impressive 3.96 GPA. He was active within his school as a member of the Community Service Club, Key Club, National Honor Society, and Spanish Club. In eighth grade, Phil was recognized as one of the driving forces behind the Community Service Club, due to his leadership skills and dedication to the program. Phil also gives back to his community by volunteering at a local senior citizen organization and homeless shelter.

Phil's future goal is found an international organization whose mission is to use technology and education to help children succeed in underdeveloped countries. Phil explained, "This scholarship will help in every way to help me get through my post-secondary education. It will pay for my education right now, but in the long run, I will be able to use my knowledge to help my family, and ultimately help out the world."

His dreams are big, but his longtime teacher Sharif Abdelhamid says of Phil, "I firmly believe in his ability to accomplish the lofty goals that he has set for himself."

At Junior Achievement, we hope that Phil turns his dreams into reality by making a difference in his community, and ultimately, the world.

MASOOMA GUL (Denver School of Science and Technology)
Attending the University of Colorado at Boulder

For many students, changing schools can be a difficult experience. But for 18 year old Masooma Gul, changing schools didn’t just mean moving across town or to a different state. In 2004, Masooma and her family moved to the United States from Pakistan. Masooma faced many challenges while adapting to her new environment, and has worked hard to become successful without losing sight of her native culture and values.

Growing up, Masooma was in a place where everyone had the same beliefs and customs. From the moment she got off the plane at Los Angeles, she knew that everything was about to change dramatically. From the way people looked, to the way they talked, America was a very foreign place to her. Masooma’s religious and cultural beliefs often conflicted with this new place. Things that were considered wrong in her upbringing were acceptable in America, the food was different, and the language was different. She knew that she had to make a difficult choice - either remain true to her native practices, or change and adopt this new American culture. Masooma decided to stay true to who she was, and kept her native Islamic culture.

Despite cultural and language barriers, Masooma has worked diligently to produce the highest quality of work in all of her academic pursuits and beyond. With the help of friends, tutors, and teachers, Masooma graduated from the Denver School of Science and Technology and is now attending the University of Colorado at Boulder. While attending DSST, Masooma received internship training from Junior Achievement and participated in an internship program with Fitzsimmons Hospital as a research assistant.

Because of her strong desire to help people, Masooma aspires to one day become a doctor and a role model. Though she initially was unsure about leaving her home, she is now happy that she is here, and hopes to take full advantage of the new opportunities available to her.

ALEC ERICKSON (Green Mountain High School)
Attending Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah

Alec Erickson, 18, has been actively involved with Junior Achievement through JA’s Business Week program, which she has participated in over the past two summers. She has showcased her leadership skills and determination in the program, just as she has in other aspects of her life. Alec has held leadership positions in her church since the age of twelve, and has been described by one of her teachers as “…a tremendous vocal leader…she does not talk about the things she wants to accomplish, she goes out and accomplishes them.

But about a year and a half ago, the unexpected occurred when most of her family fell ill with meningitis. Alec’s mother, Cris, a single parent of four daughters, stayed in the hospital with her daughters while they were recovering. While her children recovered, Cris learned that she had unknowingly gone three months with untreated meningitis. Because she went untreated for so long while tending to her daughters, an aneurism was discovered in her brain, causing permanent neurological damage.

While her mother and sisters were recovering in the hospital, Alec took over all the responsibilities of the household. Every day, she would take care of her sisters, pets, and housework, along with her school work and activities. In addition to those responsibilities, Alec also found the time to maintain the dog walking, childcare, and maid service businesses she had started with her sister.

This period greatly changed Alec’s life. Her dream of attending medical school to help others only grew after the hardships her family experienced. After experiencing and overcoming some of life’s biggest hurdles, Alec desires to give back to others in return for what others have given to her. “I want to help people. I know it's what I am meant to do.”