Past Recipients
Left to right, 2007 recipient Jason Amador, 2006 recipient Qi "Heidi" Zhang, and 2005 recipient Colin Hickey
Brandon Gariner, our 2003 Kit Faragher Memorial Scholarship recipient who loves sports and animals, is the youngest of three sons. He received $5,000 for his two-year program at Lamar Community College in Lamar, Colorado. Mr. Gariner graduated from Lamar Community College in May 2006.
He then attended Fort Hays State University in Fort Hays, Kansas and was selected for an elite leadership Class. Mr. Gariner's mother wrote, "Brandon has a very bright future, all because of Kit's tragic death, and the good you were able to bring out of it."
Mr. Gariner, without the Kit Faragher Memorial Scholarship, would not have attended college.
Elizabeth Rowe, our 2004 recipient, is an enthusiastic and hard working young woman raised by a single mother from Idaho Springs. She received $2,500 during her first year at Metropolitan State College of Denver.
During her scholarship interview, she spoke about achieving her dreams and having her "castle." She is "getting closer and closer to [her] castle every day."
Colin Hickey, our 2005 recipient from Nederland is an athlete and outdoors man, the youngest of three sons raised by a widowed mother. He received $4,000 for his first two years at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Mr. Hickey graduated from CU in May 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and a Certificate In Peace and Conflict Studies.
Currently, he is working, traveling, and applying go Ph.D. programs. Mr. Hickey wrote, "The Kit Faragher Foundation scholarship proved instrumental in my college career and, hence, personal development. Through the scholarship, I [was] able to flourish intellectually, socially, and personally in a university setting."
Qi 'Heidi' Zhang, our 2006 recipient from Longmont, received $4,000 for her first two years at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Ms. Zhang, who immigrated to Boulder County from China, is excelling in the Chemical Engineering program at CU, making new friends, and adapting well to her new culture.
In her essay, Ms. Zhang wrote, "I would like my star to shine as brightly as that of Kit Faragher. I would love its radiance to reflect, not only my passion for life, but also to continue to reflect the legacy of this special woman, and keep her light shining brightly."
Jason Amador, our 2007 recipient from Commerce City, CO is an enthusiastic athlete who participated in football, wrestling and track, while staying on the honor roll through all four years of high school. He was raised by a single mother to whom he is dedicated and plans on caring for in the future.
Mr. Amador attends Colorado Sate University in Fort Collins, CO, and is studying Engineering.
Ariana McCaleb, our 2008 recipient from Nederland, CO, is receiving $5,000 during her first two years of college. She co-founded and served as president of the Fencing Club at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs where she finished her first year in the Nursing Program with a 3.97 GPA. In August 2009, after much deliberation, Ms. McCaleb transferred to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley for her sophomore year where she continues her study of Nursing.
Giselle Diaz, who received a $1,000 stipend in 2008, is completing her Licensed Practical Nurse program at Pickens Technical College in Denver and works part-time in a nursing home where "just making the residents smile makes my day."
Katie Kwiatkoski, our 2009 recipient, is receiving a $5,000 scholarship during her first two years while studying Public Relations at Metropolitan Stare College of Denver. Katie, who was voted Optimist International Outstanding Student in high school, is exuberant, resourceful, and down-to-earth. In addition to taking full load of classes at Metro, Katie has been published in the college newspaper and works 32 hours a week at a bank to help pay for college and living expenses.