Six LCF 2021 Scholarships awarded to Lyons graduating seniors

The Lyons Community Foundation (LCF) exists to improve the quality of life, build a culture of giving, and encourage positive change for the Greater Lyons Area.  The attributes of the LCF mission statement can be found in all the recipients for this year’s scholarships. This speaks highly of the dedication and hard work of not only these students and their parents but all the teachers and staff along the way.
Offering scholarships to Lyons area graduating seniors began in 2009 with a single $500 scholarship. In May, 2021 the LCF awarded $7500 in scholarships to six Lyons area graduating seniors. To date, $64,500 in scholarship funds have been awarded to 64 college bound students. 
Established in 2020, the Lyons Community Foundation Mission Scholarship recognizes students who embody the LCF's mission of improving the quality of life, building a culture of giving, and encouraging positive change for the greater Lyons area. The 2021 Lyons Community Foundation Mission Scholarship was awarded to Eva Lennert (Niwot HS) and Janeth Marquez Rubio (Lyons HS). Eva will be attending Vassar College majoring in English/History. Janeth will be attending the University of Colorado, Boulder majoring in Biomedical Engineering.  
Established in 2009, the Lyons Community Foundation Scholarship in Memory of Steve Ralston honors Lyons resident and business owner Steve Ralston and is awarded to a student who best expresses their passion for learning and sharing one’s interests, skills, and joyful life experiences with their community. Hannah Thomas (Lyons HS) is the 2021 recipient; she will be attending Oregon State University majoring in Bioengineering.
Established in 2014, the Gerald Boland Memorial Scholarship recognizes a student who demonstrates a passion for learning and for their community. Gerald Boland died during the September 2013 flood near his home in Lyons. He taught in Lyons for 31 years, 5 years at the high school and 26 years at the elementary school.  He served as a mentor to many of Lyons youth as a basketball coach for 23 years and as a Boy Scout Leader. His dedication to the Lyons community was just as unwavering as his dedication to education. Nick Parker (Lyons HS), recipient of the 2021 Gerald Boland Memorial Scholarship, will be attending Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee. He plans to study biology with aspirations of entering medicine.
Established in 2016, the Uncle Louis “Bud” Winkler Memorial Scholarship was made possible by an endowment from a local Lyons resident to honor the memory of his Uncle Louis who helped put him through college.  The 2021 recipient of the Uncle Louis “Bud” Winkler Scholarship is Avery Joy (Lyons HS). She will be attending the University of Wyoming majoring in Business Administration.
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Established in 2018, the Janet Orback Memorial Scholarship honors the memory of lifelong Lyons resident Janet Orback, who along with her husband Dave, tirelessly helped to provide support and friendship to her neighbors whose homes and lives were destroyed in the 2013 floods, as well as being stewards of the Lyons Cemetery for over 15 years. Recipients of the Janet Orback Memorial Scholarship are active participants in the community, and show a commitment to caring for the environment. The 2021 recipient is Samantha Christy (Lyons HS) who will be majoring in Computer Science at the University of Colorado, Boulder. 
The Lyons Community Foundation is proud of the accomplishments of these six students, as well as the accomplishments of all the students who applied for the scholarships. These scholarships are made possible through the generous donations of the Lyons community. If you would like to support the scholarship program and help a student achieve their dream of a college education, your contributions are greatly appreciated. To donate to any of these scholarships, please go to www.lyonscf.org/donate.html, click on DONATE TO THE SCHOLARSHIP FUND and indicate if you would like your support applied in memory of Steve Ralston, Gerald Boland, Janet Orback, or the General Scholarship Fund.  Donations may also be mailed to the Lyons Community Foundation, PO Box 546, Lyons, Colorado 80540.