Stewart Family Scholarship

The Stewart Family Scholarship has been established by Mark E. Stewart (79, Geology) to provide scholarship assistance to Western Colorado University students in the Natural Sciences.

“My Father’s hard work, determination and ambition is what drove me to help fund the Stewart Family Scholarship. Having grown up in Oklahoma during the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, he was very fortunate to have been offered a college football scholarship, but had to quit college to help his parents eke out a living back on the farm. Later, a long and successful career in the petroleum industry helped him achieve a comfortable living and a wonderful family of eight children. My father’s only regret in life was that he never received a college education and missed out on career opportunities made available only to college graduates. Because he never graduated from college, his crowning achievement in life was to send all eight children to college along with his wife of fifty-two years. My father recognized the impact a quality education can have on an individual’s growth, success, and journey in life. The Stewart Family Scholarship is directed towards under-advantaged students from rural locations seeking a science (geology preferred) or business degree.

Cherish your Western education.

As a marginal high school student, I went to Western and flourished, thanks in part to an exciting major (petroleum geology) as well as a FANTASTIC group of professors who guided, nurtured, challenged, scolded, and pushed me to achieve excellence. Having graduated with a geology major, I followed my father’s footsteps and went to work in the petroleum industry, working alongside fellow engineers from many prestigious universities across the country. Because of Western State College (College name in 1975) I was more than prepared to match and or exceed fellow workers performances thanks to a degree specific curriculum and a well-rounded, liberal arts program. My education was second to none. Coupled with strong ambition and a positive attitude, my career was lengthy, satisfying, and rewarding.

Be proud of your Western University degree and always give back.

Your degree from Western will open many doors for you. However, in addition to your degree, the following attributes will further help you in both career and life achievements. Integrity, loyalty, and pride are vital in both life and work. Be early, people appreciate punctuality. Finally, while aptitude is important, never underestimate the power of a positive attitude and unbridled ambition.

Life can be a bumpy road. Hard work, a positive attitude and kindness to the less fortunate will always smooth the way.

Congratulations on pursuing your degree!"

Eligibility
Minimum 2.5 GPA at Western
Must be a returning student (sophomore or higher)
Must be a declared major in one of the Natural Sciences
Preference for Geology majors, or Science majors minoring in Business
Strong preference to assist minority, under-represented students, especially those from rural areas
A balance of academic potential and unmet financial need shall be the principal selection criteria