Building a Better Albuquerque
Building a Better Albuquerque Scholarship
The Building a Better Albuquerque Scholarship fund provides financial assistance to teens, young adults, and non-traditional students living in and around the communities we serve. This scholarship can be applied to any type of post-secondary education, including community college, trade school, and licensures. Award amount is $500.
Scholarship applications are due no later than July 15 with awards distributed in August. Award recipients will be asked to provide a photo and brief bio to be featured on GAHP's website.
Scholarship Winners
Charlotte Bordegaray of Santa Fe, NM is studying Business Management and Political Science with a minor in Global Affairs at Texas Tech University. Bordegaray hopes to attend law school in the future. “It has always been my dream to work in a court, represent clients, and argue for those who cannot for themselves.”
How do you see your education contributing to building a better Albuquerque?
As a future lawyer, I can make an impact that will affect those in the thick of the changing world in which we live. As a dual major, Political Science can help me to put people before business, because we all know that the economy can come and go, but our communities are forever. My main goal for my home is to uphold the beauty, the stories, and the traditions of the wonderful people that make the Land of Enchantment home.
2022 Scholarship Winner
Charlotte Bordegaray
Sofia Marrufo of Albuquerque is currently attending New Mexico State University and is in her second year of the Master of Social Work program. A native New Mexican, Marrufo’s goals include becoming a mental health therapist and providing a therapeutic and inviting space for people experiencing homelessness to share their stories and access help through case management services. “I am also interested in working with the prison population. I have learned that many of these problems we are faced with in society are rooted in childhood abuse. I hope to address these root causes by providing therapy and case management services once I graduate.”
How do you see your education contributing to building a better Albuquerque?
I can contribute to a better Albuquerque by applying the skills learned as a social worker to the issues that are affecting my community, thereby affecting all of us. I plan to ease the hopelessness of people who need help facing these issues, but don't know where to start or feel overwhelmed. If we can learn about the root causes negatively impacting the lives of those around us, we will better understand their plight and be more inclined to find ways to help.
2022 Scholarship Winner
Sofia Marrufo
Crystal Davis Sparks lives in Albuquerque at one of GAHP’s apartment communities. Ms. Sparks will be attending the University of Oklahoma working towards a Master of Legal Studies in Indigenous People’s Law. The program is designed by the OU Law faculty for non-lawyers whose careers demand an understanding of the complex rules of Federal Indian Law. Her goal is to better serve a severely underserved community in New Mexico. Upon completion, she hopes to assist the Native community navigate the complex legal system. “I have long been an advocate of those in need,” explains Sparks, “[this program] will allow me to advocate for Native families.”
How do you see your education contributing to building a better Albuquerque?
I will be able to assist many in proven need, possibly in connection with the many helpful services already in place and other local needs-based legal assistance organizations. This is a very important and, sadly, common concern to our Indigenous community. We are a terribly underserved but vital part of this memorable Southwest.
2022 Scholarship Winner
Crystal Davis Sparks
Lillian is a resident of the Casa Feliz apartments. At the time of her award, she was in training at the Clinical Laboratory Assistant/Phlebotomy program at Central New Mexico Community College. Lillian volunteered with local organizations including STEM Scouts Lab 314, Albuquerque Healthcare for the Homeless, and Young Women United. Lillian's dream is to become a certified medical laboratory scientist.
2018 Scholarship Winner
Lillian Sanchez
Alicia Romero was one of two 2019 scholarship award recipients. Alicia graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2018 and went on to pursue her PhD at the Pacific University School of Occupational Therapy. She tutored students at our Casa Feliz property in the STEM Scouts program for two years, teaching science experiments to at-risk elementary aged students through play centered activities.
2019 Scholarship Winner
Alicia Romero
Breanne was one of two 2019 scholarship award recipients. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2019 and went on to pursue her PhD in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania. She tutored students at our Casa Feliz property in the STEM Scouts program for two years, teaching science experiments to at-risk elementary aged students through play centered activities.