FLC Presidential Scholars Program connects students to opportunity

For Samuel Madrid, transferring to Fort Lewis College was about more than finding the right academic program. It was about finding a way to afford the next chapter of his education.

A first-generation college student from Denver, Madrid worked to improve his grades at Red Rocks Community College while navigating financial challenges that had already forced him to take a semester off. He wanted to continue his education, but the cost of moving to Durango presented another obstacle.

Before learning he had received a Reisher Scholarship, Madrid wasn't sure he could make the move.

"If I don't get the Reisher scholarship, I might have to stay home," he recalled telling a friend.

Today, Madrid is studying psychology and sociology at FLC, supported by the Reisher Scholarship and COSI. He also works in the Financial Aid Office, where he is building connections with the people who helped make his transfer possible.

His experience reflects the purpose of FLC's Presidential Scholars Program, which brings together scholarship opportunities, mentorship, professional development, and community-building activities to help students succeed in college and prepare for what comes next.

Building a community of scholars

Housed within the Office of the President, FLC's Presidential Scholars Program includes the established Reisher and Springboard Fellows programs, as well as the newly established COSI-Saul Zaentz Scholarship, which welcomed its first cohort of students this fall.

In 2025, the Saul Zaentz Foundation pledged $400,000 to establish the scholarship program at FLC, supporting first-generation students from low-income backgrounds. The gift helped FLC secure matching funding through the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), a state program administered by the Colorado Department of Higher Education that combines scholarship funding with student support services to make college more accessible and help Colorado students complete their degrees.

Together, these investments provide financial assistance and connect scholars with specialized advising, academic support, professional development, and well-being resources throughout their college experience.

Under the leadership of President Heather Shotton, FLC is taking a more intentional approach to programming and support connected to its scholarship programs, bringing scholars together and connecting them with resources across campus.

"A scholarship can open the door to college, but our responsibility doesn't stop there," Shotton said. "We have to actively invest in these students by creating intentional programming to support scholars, building community for them, and providing opportunities to develop critical skills and networks. We want them to know we are invested in their success."

The program's kickoff event, held Sept. 23, brought scholars together for an evening of networking and professional development. The event was designed to offer professional headshots, résumé reviews, mock interviews and a professional clothing exchange.

Representatives from scholarship programs and campus support services, including TRIO, Career Services, Peer Support, WellPAC and the Academic Hub, were also invited to connect with students.

The kickoff is part of a broader yearlong effort to support scholars through their academic journeys. A spring gala will bring the students together again, with special recognition for graduating scholars.

For a group in which approximately half of the students are first-generation college students, those connections can make a meaningful difference.

Madrid, who is also involved with TRIO, said finding community at FLC has helped ease the transition from Red Rocks. He remembers feeling nervous when he first met other Reisher scholars, but those initial conversations have already led to new friendships.

Investing in students from the start

For Maddox Spotted Elk Wilson, a first-year music education major from Longmont, Colorado, the COSI-Saul Zaentz Scholarship offers financial support and an opportunity to grow throughout his college experience.

Wilson, who is Lakota Sioux and a first-generation college student, discovered FLC while searching for colleges with scholarship opportunities. The Native American Tuition Waiver initially drew his attention, and the additional scholarship helped make attending college more affordable for his family.

Growing up in a single-parent household, Wilson understood the financial commitment his mother was making to support his education.

"Every dollar counts," he said.

As part of the first COSI-Saul Zaentz cohort, Wilson will have access to scholarship support throughout his four-year college journey, provided he meets the program's requirements.

He hopes to become a music teacher, with a particular interest in teaching singing. He has already begun sharing his love of music with others, including teaching his mother to play guitar.

Beyond the financial assistance, Wilson sees the scholarship as encouragement to develop his leadership skills and take advantage of new opportunities.

"I want to take on more leadership roles, and I think this scholarship promotes and rewards that kind of thing," he said.

Preparing for what comes next

For students approaching graduation, the Presidential Scholars Program also provides opportunities to develop professional skills and build relationships beyond campus.

Springboard, a yearlong fellowship for students preparing to transition from college to their careers, combines financial support with weekly workshops, mentorship, networking and other professional development experiences.

Suntilla Jack, a fifth-year student double-majoring in Native American and Indigenous Studies and English, said the program is helping her build the confidence and connections she will need after graduation.

As a Native woman from Oklahoma, she said entering professional networking spaces can sometimes feel uncomfortable, particularly when she does not see people who share her background.

"I have enough confidence to know that I should be here," Jack said. "But it's kind of like, how do I get people to understand me and make those connections?"

Through Springboard, she is learning to navigate those environments while building relationships with professionals, including a mentor.

The fellowship also provides $3,000 in financial support, helping reduce the number of hours she would otherwise need to work while completing her degree.

But the experience extends beyond financial assistance.

"I'm gaining skills through this program to make me feel like I can be in spaces and that I'm able to be in those spaces," Jack said.

For Shotton, that preparation is an important part of the Presidential Scholars Program. By connecting students with mentors, professional development, and one another, FLC's Presidential Scholars Program is designed to help scholars make the most of their college experience while building a foundation for their futures.

"I want the students in the Presidential Scholars Program to leave Fort Lewis knowing what they're capable of and prepared for the next step in their journey," Shotton said. "Whether they're preparing for their first job, graduate school, or a leadership role in their community, I want them to have the confidence, relationships, skills, and support to take that next step. That's what we're building through this program."

For Madrid, that next step once felt uncertain. Financial challenges had already interrupted his education, and without the Reisher Scholarship, he wasn't sure he could afford to transfer to FLC.

Now, he's living on campus, studying psychology and sociology, and building friendships with fellow scholars who understand his journey.

"After getting these scholarships, being with these people and realizing, like, I'm meant to be here," Madrid said. "So I'm doing the thing that I wanted to do."