SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS
Apply through the CSUSA application directly | Deadline: March 1, 2025
Awarded by CSU and funded by Michael J. Stratton
 

Mike Stratton, nationally renowned political strategist, and Colorado business and civic leader has gifted $200,000 to Colorado State University to endow the Mike Stratton Scholarship.  The scholarship is designed to fund two new 9-R school district scholars each year for $5,000 each in renewable funding. 
 

Mike created the scholarship to give back to his hometown and to bridge his two alma maters: Durango High School and Colorado State University. He served as the editor of  El Diablo while a student at Durango High School and he majored in journalism at Colorado State University. 

The scholarship program will serve to attract students graduating from the Durango 9-R schools to the study of journalism at Colorado State University. The recipient selection process will be a joint effort between the Durango Education Foundation and the Colorado State University College of Liberal Arts which houses the School of Journalism and Media Studies.  Preference will be given to first-generation, low-income students.
 

Two scholarships will be made available to Durango High School students interested in pursuing Journalism and/or Communications at Colorado State University. 

Award Amount: $5,000 (renewable) to Colorado State University.  
Scholarships must be used exclusively for tuition, student fees, university bookstore course purchases, and related items eligible to be charged to a student’s official campus account. Payment will be made directly to Colorado State University. 

Selection: Recipients will be selected by an Advisory Committee formed by Mike Stratton with a representative from the DEF Scholarship Committee

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ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS
To be eligible, the student must:

• Graduate from DHS or BP high schools in good academic and behavioral standing

• Earn a minimum of a 2.75 GPA or above. 

  • GPA is not the sole determinant of the award

• Plan to pursue Journalism and/or Communications at Colorado State University full-time
   

EVALUATION CRITERIA

• Demonstrated excellence in communications

• Show positive contributions toward communications on campus or in the community

• Have goals and progress toward journalism or communications career

• Demonstrate financial need

• Provide a sample of their work
   

INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• A COMPLETE CSUSA APPLICATION with any additional required documents for the CSU scholarship application process
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DEADLINE: March 1, 2025

This is a separate deadline and separate application
Please apply using the CSUSA application | You can see the scholarship details here

You must be an admitted CSU student to apply.

The CSUSA application will be used for you to apply to all the CSU scholarships you may be eligible for. Make sure you spend time reading about it and have everything prepared to just drop into the form.