The Alpine Bank has recently created a new scholarship geared towards Latino-Hispanic Colorado Mesa University (CMU) students. Susana Salamun, the Alpine Bank Director of Latino Services, noticed that a majority of the Latino community was underrepresented at the collegiate level.

As a result, she felt that more scholarships should be tailored to aid the Latino community who wants to further their education at CMU. Sept. 13, 2019, marked the day that Alpine Bank announced two new scholarships that would support Salamun’s efforts.

CMU President Tim Foster supported the effort to help spread financial aid to Latino students in the CMU community. The scholarship will help Latino students cover their tuition, fees and books.

David Ludlum, Director of Public Relations on CMU’s campus, explained to The Criterion that the Alpine Scholarship is separate from other pre-existing scholarships.

“To be clear, the Alpine Scholarship is separate and not connected to the City of Grand Junction’s Opportunity Scholarship program. Alpine heard about the fact that Mesa County has opportunity to grow post high school education attainment and believed their investment in scholarship  is one way their company could help in the community wide effort. In this way it’s contributing in solving the same challenge that the GJ program is oriented towards,” Ludlam said.

The first recipient of the new scholarship was announced on Sept. 11, 2019.