NEWS RELEASE # 22
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 30, 2013
BakerHostetler Announces “First Generation” Scholarship
BakerHostetler, a national law firm with an office in Denver, has joined with the Community College of Aurora Foundation to offer a $2,500 per semester scholarship for qualifying Aurora Public Schools graduates.
The BakerHostetler/APS Superintendent's Merit Scholars Award was established with a $25,000 grant from BakerHostetler and is intended for high performing students who are the first in their families to attend college. This five-year commitment supports qualifying Aurora Public Schools graduates to attend the Community College of Aurora (CCA) for two years, with the hope of then transferring to Metropolitan State University of Denver to complete their studies.
"BakerHostetler has a longstanding commitment to improving opportunity by supporting higher education," said Ray Sutton, managing partner of the BakerHostetler Denver office. "This scholarship was the perfect way to continue that commitment and show our support for former BakerHostetler partner, Rico Munn, the newly appointment superintendent of Aurora Public Schools."
In addition to the financial support this grant provides, BakerHostetler partner A. Jeremy Atencio serves on the CCA Foundation board and Ray Sutton has been a member of the Metropolitan State University of Denver Foundation Board since 1995 (having also served as its chairman).
Mike Quirk, president of Community College of Aurora Foundation, called it an "incredible opportunity for students to benefit from BakerHostetler's commitment to education."
Award recipients will be selected through an application and interview process and can receive the scholarship for up to two years, as long as they continue to meet the criteria. The scholarship selection committee will include members from the CCA Foundation, BakerHostetler and Aurora Public Schools Education Foundation (APSEF). Final selection will be made by APS Superintendent Munn.
"APS is excited to be part of this creative partnership between the business community, higher education and K-12 to accelerate learning for APS students," said Superintendent Munn. "On a personal note, I am honored that my former colleagues have chosen to extend their history of community partnerships to my work here in APS."
"For every dollar a community college graduate invests in their education, they will earn a significant increase in their future income over the life of their careers," said Wendy Mitchell, president and CEO of the Aurora Economic Development Council. "Additionally, these students are learning skills that will contribute to vital sectors of our economy, such as health care and homeland security. The Community College of Aurora provides a pipeline of workers to the advances industries in our community ensuring an available and reliable workforce."
Winners will be announced at the Community College of Aurora Foundation's Annual Scholarship Luncheon in the spring and the APSEF Gala in the fall of each year. Opportunities for additional financial contributions will be offered at both events.
About BakerHostetler
BakerHostetler is among the nation's 100 largest law firms with nearly 800 attorneys coast to coast, delivering the highest quality legal counsel on the most complex and critical issues facing clients today. The firm has offices in Chicago, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Costa Mesa, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando and Washington, D.C. Its five primary practice groups are Business, Employment, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Tax. For more information, visit www.bakerlaw.com.
About Community College of Aurora Foundation
Our mission is to build financial and public support for the Community College of Aurora. Goals: Provide financial support to the College and its students through effective fundraising. Build public and business awareness of the College and the benefits it provides the community. Provide community input and counsel to the College.
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Interested media may contact APS News Media Specialist
Paula Hans at 303.326.2755
