Foundation

About the RRCC Foundation Scholarship Program

The Red Rocks Community College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization devoted to supporting Red Rocks Community College in its commitment to students, learning, and excellence. Since 1993, the Foundation Scholarship Program has aided over 5,400 students realize their dreams of going to college. The RRCC Foundation offers a wide variety of scholarships based on both need and merit. An applicant’s grades, academic and professional goals, financial need, community service, and special circumstances are all evaluated in the awarding process. A complete list of Foundation Scholarship Program Policies can be found at the bottom of this page.

How to Apply

Scholarship Applications can be found Online at RRCC.ACADEMICWORKS.COM.

10 Tips for Students Applying to a Foundation Scholarship

Issues or Questions

If you are experiencing any issues creating an account, logging in, or have any questions on the application please contact us at: scholarships@rrcc.edu or 303.914.6425

Foundation Scholarship Program Policies

Completion of this application does not guarantee a scholarship award. All eligible applications submitted by the deadline will be evaluated on a number of criteria including need and merit. The RRCC Foundation reserves the right to extend the filing period at the discretion of the Executive Director. Final decision-making rights regarding scholarship selections are held by the RRCC Foundation Executive Director. RRCC Foundation scholarships are funded by gifts from private donors and do not include public funds. Institutional scholarships and other awards administered through the RRCC Foundation may include public funds and will have specified additional criteria. A copy of the College's Scholarship Policy can be found online.

Notification of Applicants: Response letters are sent to all applicants regarding award status by the end of May. 

Disclaimer: A Red Rocks Community College or Red Rocks Community College Foundation scholarship will only be valid for students enrolled at this college. Red Rocks Community College defines “full-time” enrollment as 12 credit hours per semester. Annual scholarships are defined as fall and spring semesters in the same academic year. Scholarship students who receive need-based financial aid or other additional awards may recognize a reduction to their original financial aid award.

Students receiving scholarships are expected to maintain a RRCC minimum GPA and minimum enrollment. Recipients must fulfill the requirements of the scholarship as listed in the notification letter to fully utilize the award during the academic year. If the scholarship student drops below the minimum GPA during any semester, a discontinuance of the scholarship may result. Additionally, the student may be required to provide reimbursement for current awards issued. 

RRCC Tuition Reimbursement-Eligible Employees: All tuition reimbursement-eligible RRCC employees (Employment Categories: ATP, FAC, CLA, ADJ) should refer to BP3-60, as any scholarship monies you receive will be used prior to your tuition benefit. The RRCC Foundation strongly discourages benefits-eligible employees from applying to this program as their employee benefits will not be used if a scholarship is granted.

Withdrawal Policy: In the event, a scholarship recipient drops or withdraws from a course after it has been paid by a scholarship award, the student may be held financially responsible to the college and/or Foundation for those costs. Additionally, future scholarships disbursements may be rescinded. The RRCC Foundation Executive Director has final decision-making rights regarding rescinding or revoking scholarship awards.

Nondiscrimination Statement: Red Rocks Community College is committed to diversity in its people and programs. The College is an equal opportunity educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of  race, creed, color, sex/gender, sexual orientation gender identity, religion, age, national/ ethnic origin, pregnancy status, veteran’s status, genetic information, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by applicable law, in its employment practices or educational programs and activities.

American Building Supply Foundation Scholarship
American Subcontractors Association Scholarship
Anschutz Foundation Matching Scholarship
Applewood Plumbing and Heating Scholarship
Jeffrey Kevin Arbuckle Memorial Endowed
Arvada Elks Community Scholarship
Asian Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
Barber Nichols, Inc. Endowed Scholarship
Be The Change Scholarship
Bob and Margaret Barber Family Endowed Scholarship
Boundless Opportunity Scholarship
Boys and Girls Club Scholarship
Brookfield Properties Scholarship
Cheryl A. Burgett Memorial Scholarship
Mildred Campbell Endowed Scholarship
Career Stepping Stone Scholarship
Chief George Goldbach Memorial Scholarship
Clear the Air Foundation Scholarship
Harlan and Lois Anderson Family Foundation Scholarship
City of Arvada Scholarship
Cody and Shelby Allen Memorial Scholarship
Collier Family Scholarship - Physician Assistant
Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative
Daniels Fund Opportunity Award
Distributing Dinero for Wisdom Scholarship
Early Ford V-8 Club in honor of Dennis Vanderhoof
Education is Power Scholarship
The Encouragement Scholarship
Engineering Graphics Scholarship
Exceptional Learners Scholarship
FirstBank of Colorado Scholarship
Gardner Family Foundation Scholarship - ECE
Thomas Glennon Memorial Scholarship - Fire/EMS
Golden Civic Foundation Scholarship

Bill & Elaine Hartong Scholarship
Jacquie Haughton Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Gwyn Green Memorial Scholarship
Tyler Hagaman Memorial Scholarship
Harvey Family Foundation Scholarship
Hazelrigg Family Endowed Scholarship
Lois and Robert Hellstern Memorial Scholarship
Help For Your Future Scholarship
Joan L. Hess Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Dr. Dorothy Horrell Presidential Scholarship
I Believe I Can Fly Scholarship
I Know You Can Do It Scholarship
Helen Johnson Memorial Scholarship
Jacobs Reinventing Tomorrow Scholarship
The Jefferson High School Class of 1969 Memorial Scholarship
The Mr. J (Alan L. Jobobsen) ScholarshipJohnson Foundation Financial Aid Program
Johnson Foundation of the Rockies Scholarship
Kaiser Permanente Challenge Scholarship
Clarence and Rose Keffeler Scholarship
Michelle Keller Memorial Scholarship
Kingdom Enlightenment Foundation Scholarship
Harold and Lillian LaFleur Endowed Scholarship
Lillian LaFleur Scholarship
Harry & Cris Mathews Family Scholarship
McKee Family Foundation Scholarship
Tom McMahon Memorial Scholarship - Construction
Al & Mindy Meiklejohn Endowed Scholarship
Menk Family Endowed Scholarship
Les & Sue Metzger Scholarship
National Association of Women in Construction Scholarship

The Miss Nobis (Maralee J. Nobis-Jocobsen) Scholarship
Elissa Notarianni-Ditto Endowed Scholarship – Math/Science
Pay it Forward Scholarship
P.E.O. Sisterhood, GW Chapter
Phoenix Scholarship
Donna Remley Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Cliff Richardson Scholarship
Rolling Hills Country Club Foundation Endowed Scholarship
Red Rocks Community College Alumni Give Back Scholarship
Red Rocks Community College Foundation Scholarship
Red Rocks Community College 40th Anniversary Scholarship
Reul Family Endowed Scholarship
Rocky Mountain Pipeliners Scholarship
Rodriguez Baker Scholarship for the Arts
Theodore C. Sandquist Endowed Scholarship
Matthew Scheel Memorial Scholarship
Schiebout Family Endowed Scholarship
John & Yasuko Shimizu Endowed Scholarship
Slinger Family Scholarship
The Student Voice Endowed Scholarship
Stipech Scholarship
“Swede” Johnson Memorial Endowed Scholarship
Peter Titus Memorial Scholarship
Harry Trueblood Foundation Scholarship
Transportation Girl Scholarship
Together We Thrive Scholarship
Water Quality Management & Treatment Scholarship

How do I know if I qualify for a RRCC Foundation scholarship

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026 Eligibility Requirements include, but are not limited to:

• US Citizen, Permanent Resident, Eligible Non-Citizen, or DACA.
• Colorado Resident 

When can I apply for the Foundation Scholarship and when is the application open?
The 2025-2026 Foundation Scholarship application window is now open. Visit RRCC.AcademicWorks.com to apply.”

When  is the Scholarship Application Due By?
The 2025-2026 due date is March 6th 2025.  

Is there an essay involved?
Yes. You will need to write an up to 750-word essay about yourself. The specific prompt is available as part of the scholarship application. A good suggestion is to utilize the Writing Workshop here on campus.

Why do I need references?
All applicants for RRCC Foundation Scholarships need to submit contact information for one reference who is not a family member. We will contact your reference by email. You can manage your references through the online scholarship system, AcademicWorks, by clicking the references tab while the application period is open (no edits can be made after the deadline). The references tab only appears once you have submitted at least one reference. Let your reference know you have used their email, so that they can be aware an email is coming with the reference piece.

How much money could I get?
Scholarships are typically $1,500 - $2,500, but they can go as high as $5,500. 

When can I use the scholarship money?
All awarded scholarships from the application period are for use during the Fall 2025 and spring 2026 academic semesters at RRCC.

Where can I use RRCC Foundation Scholarships?
RRCC Foundation Scholarships can only be used for your enrollment as a student at RRCC. RRCC Foundation Scholarship do not travel with you to any other higher education institution.

Does getting a scholarship affect my financial aid at RRCC?
All financial aid (scholarship included) is subject to federal and state rules. At RRCC that means yes, a scholarship could affect your financial aid if your total amount of financial aid for any one school year meets or exceeds your cost of attendance. You’ll know when this happens because the RRCC Financial Aid Office will contact you about it with choices on what you want to do.

Are there scholarships for my major?
There are scholarships for every major.

I want to apply, but I think that I don’t qualify for scholarships. Who would give me a scholarship?
Hold the phone! Why not give it a chance? Many students find themselves surprised every year. Feel free to stop by our office if you have any questions about your eligibility.

Student success is directly influenced by faculty excellence. Red Rocks Community College strives to deliver an exceptional educational experience to all students by recruiting, recognizing, and rewarding exceptional faculty. The RRCC Foundation Teaching Chair Program, the only multi-year faculty award in the Colorado Community College System, is a meaningful way of recognizing and awarding outstanding faculty. The Mike Leprino Family and Coors Brewing Company endowed the first two chairs in 2001.

Recipients of a RRCC Teaching Chair Award are selected from full-time faculty following a portfolio review and initial screening by a panel of faculty representatives. The panel then forwards a list of finalists to the RRCC Foundation Board of Directors for final selection. Each recipient is awarded a three-year salary enhancement of $8,000 per year in addition to $4,000 per year for professional development.

Faculty may download a nomination form or application packet or pick one up in person at the Foundation Office (room 1133).

An Endowed Teaching Chair may be established with a gift or pledge of $100,000 and continues in perpetuity. A Named Teaching Chair may be established with a gift of $22,500. Teaching Chair donors are recognized in many ways for their generous support of faculty and educational excellence. Donor recognition includes naming rights, permanent recognition on the Teaching Chair wall at the RRCC Lakewood campus, recognition in RRCC publications, and an invitation to the Foundation's annual Donor Appreciation Luncheon. For more information regarding making a donation in support of the Teaching Chair Program, contact RRCC Foundation Office at 303.914.6417.

Dr. Agneta Albinsson Endowment Fund Professional Development Grant

Established in 2013, the purpose of the fund is to support professional development opportunities for individuals teaching in the RRCC science and healthcare programs. The fund was established by Dr. Agneta Albinsson and her husband Mats Wahlstrom to aid RRCC in its ability to attract and retain highly skilled teachers in these important academic areas. Only Full-time Faculty and Adjunct Instructor in Health, Science, and Math are eligible to apply. The application period is open until Monday, May 1st. Applications submitted outside of the application period are disqualified and will not be considered. CLICK HERE for the application.

Volunteer 

A Scholarship Reviewer is typically assigned around 10 scholarship applications to review and score using established review criteria and a scoring rubric. Each application takes approximately 30 minutes, on average, to read and score. Applications include transcripts, general personal and academic information, one or two recommendation letters, and a short essay. Applications are vetted by RRCC Foundation staff prior to review to ensure that the student meets the basic eligibility requirements for the scholarship program for which they have applied. NO experience necessary, training is provided.

Commitment of time: 4-5 hours to be completed between: Mid-April to Mid-May

Location: Individually online or facilitated group sessions at RRCC.

You can become a Scholarship Reviewer by contacting us at scholarships@rrcc.edu .

Community Partnerships & Collaborations

In support of Red Rocks Community College, the RRCC Foundation regularly collaborates with individuals and organizations to pursue mutually beneficial opportunities and address common challenges.

To begin your partnership with the Red Rocks Community College Foundation please contact Foundation staff at foundation@rrcc.edu  or 303-914-6308

• Arvada Wheat Ridge Service Ambassadors for Youth (AWRSAY)
• RRCC Alumni
• Community First Foundation
• St. Anthony Hospital - Centura Health
• and many other businesses that champion the transformative power of education!

Awards

• Voted 2016 Best of the Best Local Non-Profit by the readers of the Arvada Press, Lakewood Sentinel, and the Wheat Ridge Transcript!
• Voted 2015 Best of the Best Local Non-Profit by the readers of the Arvada Press, Golden/Foothills Transcript, and the Wheat Ridge Transcript!
• 2014 Scholarship Provider of the Year, College and University Category - National Scholarship Provider Association
• Voted 2013 Best of the Best Local Non-Profit  by the readers of the Arvada Press, Golden/Foothills Transcript, Lakewood Sentinel and the Wheat Ridge Transcript!
• 2011 West Chamber Non-Profit of the Year

Red Rocks Community College Foundation features an Annual Report at the end of every year. The RRCC Foundation Annual Report gives insight into foundation programs.

For more on our publications please contact Foundation staff at foundation@rrcc.edu or 303-914-6308.

RRCC Foundation Annual Reports

• Annual Report 2021-2022
• Annual Report 2020-2021
• Annual Report 2019-2020
• Annual Report 2018-2019
• Annual Report 2017-2018
• Annual Report 2016-2017
• Annual Report 2015-2016
• Annual Report 2014-2015