Jennie & Fritz Nylund Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Eligibility:
A. Be a graduate of Nucla High School intending to be an incoming freshman, or a full time student of Western Colorado University of any class year
B. Intend to pursue a career in teaching
C. Maintain academic eligibility with a GPA of 3.0 or greater

Created by Betty Gibbs, Jennie and Fritz’s daughter, and her husband, Verner, to assist Nucla High School graduates attending Western. They established this scholarship because Jeannie and Fritz were great believers in education.

Fritz had to quit school after completing the 8th grade to help his widowed mother support and raise a family of five children in the harsh environment and climate of Silverton, Colorado, in the 1920’. After his marriage to Jennie, he encouraged her to pursue her education even though it meant time away from her family and the farm during the summer months while attending Western Colorado University and in the winter months when she took night classes and correspondence classes in her community. Through many years she earned not only her Bachelor’s degree, but also a Master’, while raising a family, keeping up the duties of a farm wife, and teaching school.

Jennie and Fritz believed in the virtue of saving their money and not spending it frivolously. They were married in 1931 during the Great Depression and knew what it meant to be without or make do with what they had. One of their philosophies was to purchase an item only after there was cash to pay for it. Consequently, through their frugality there were funds to set up this scholarship which is intended to honor them and their ideas. They would be proud of the recipient of this scholarship in his/her pursuit of higher education.

They encourage the recipients to pursue their dreams, persevere even though there will be obstacles and hardships.

A. Be a graduate of Nucla High School intending to be an incoming freshman, or a full time student of Western State College of any class year
B. Intend to pursue a career in teaching
C. Maintain academic eligibility with a GPA of 3.0 or greater