Scholarship Overview

SCHOLARSHIP DETAILS

Steve A. Torres was born in Los Angeles, California on July 31, 1998.  He was the son of Marisa S. Stubbs and Steve D. Torres.  As a youth he traveled and lived in Asia, learning to snowboard in South Korea, surf in Bali, Indonesia, explore the Angkor Wat historical site in Cambodia, and immersed himself in another culture in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam where he attended Saigon South International School.  

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After falling in love with the San Juans of Colorado, Steve moved to Durango and lived with his grandparents, Nancy and William Stubbs.  He thrived in natural beauty, snowboarding at Purgatory and the backcountry, hiking the Fourteeners, kayaking in Durango’s lakes, and tubing on the Animas River.

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Steve attended Miller Middle School, Durango High School, and Durango Big Picture High School.  At BPHS he found friendships and personal insights, connected with attentive mentors, and gained confidence and self-worth through their internship programs.  A caring, compassionate individual, Steve was sought after by friends for his ability to listen, recognize their strengths, and prioritize their values.

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Steve left this world October 3, 2019 at the young age of 21.  He would be proud to help and support other Durango Big Picture High School students as they recognize their potential, overcome hardships, and achieve their goals.

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Application Cycle: January 11, 2024 – March 11, 2024
Deadline to Submit: March 11, 2024
Award Amount: $2,500 towards tuition, fees, licenses, testing, materials, or other academic expenses
Selection: Recipients will be selected by the DEF Scholarship Committee in conjunction with and final approval by representatives of the Stubbs family.   Applicants should be aware that personal interviews may be requested by the Scholarship Committee (a DEF representative, DEF Executive Director and/or Scholarship Donor representative).

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ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIREMENTS

To be eligible you must be:

-Graduating from Big Picture High School at the end of the current academic year

-Holding a 2.0 minimum GPA and in good academic standing

-Planning to enroll full or part time in a college, (CTE) career or technical associate’s certificate or degree program at an accredited college, trade school, or vocational program that’s not for profit, fee based internship with an artesian, etc.

-Planning on implementing the Scholarship within one year of formal graduation from BPHS

-Alternative consideration for Special circumstances:  An applicant for this scholarship may be considered for this scholarship during his/her junior or senior year at BPHS if he/she is applying for innovative independent study not covered by the school district, and will be enrolled full time in this program supervised by BPHS (examples: technology, coding,  art, music).

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Your application will be evaluated on the following:

-How you plan to achieve your goals

-How this scholarship will assist you in your current or future plans

-How your life experiences either past or present, have shaped or influenced your decision-making

-What personal characteristics have helped or hindered you (for example: determination, self-motivation, ability to listen, learning from mistakes, lack of confidence, self-doubt, impulsiveness, struggles with reading and math).

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INDIVIDUAL SCHOLARSHIP REQUIREMENTS

1) A COMPLETE APPLICATION

2) Current transcripts, including senior year mid-term grades
3) TWO Letters of Recommendation from the following:

#1 A teacher, supervisor, coach/activity sponsor, or another school-related individual-

#2 A friend, family member, work colleague, internship or employment manager, or person associated with an activity that has inspired you to do your best.

4) #1 College and Career Essay: What are your education and career goals? What makes you passionate about this future path? What have you done, so far, to pursue these future goals? What will you be doing 1 and 5 years after college graduation? (600 words maximum) 

#4 Steve A. Torres Scholarship Essay: How do you plan to achieve your goals? How have your life experiences either past or present, shaped or influenced your decision-making? What personal characteristics have helped or hindered you (for example: determination, self-motivation, ability to listen, learning from mistakes, lack of confidence, self-doubt, impulsiveness, struggles with reading and math)? (500 words maximum)

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