The Del Norte AlumKnights® awarded 2020 Drawbridge to Success Scholarships of $1,000 to seven students, Skilled Trades Scholarships of $1,000 to two students, and two Diane Riley Erickson Nursing Scholarships valued at $10,000, with students receiving $1,000 in the first year and increasing amounts in years 2-4 if they continue pursuing their nursing degree. All are 2020 graduating seniors from Del Norte High School with a history of service to their school and community.
Drawbridge to Success Scholarship
The Drawbridge to Success Scholarship provides one year of support to graduating seniors who are interested in pursuing post-secondary education at a New Mexico institution of higher education and are able to demonstrate an extensive record of service, as exemplified by their participation in both school-based and community-based activities.
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
India Caldwell-Vasquez
Attending The University of New Mexico
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
Helping with our homecoming events was my most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School. I enjoyed helping to coordinate and set up an event for my peers to enjoy.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I will be attending UNM in the fall and will major in the pre-medical field. My eventual goal is to work as a sports medicine physician.
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
After I graduate from college I would like to travel and possibly work for Doctors Without Borders. Upon my return to Albuquerque I plan on working in my community and the surrounding areas in my field of practice.
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
Hunter Garcia
Attending Central New Mexico Community College
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience I have had a Del Norte in my years was when I went with my football team on the field for summer practices every morning. There was no greater feeling I had when I was out there – it was rough, hot and hard. It was totally worth all the work for me to have every memory I made out there with my brothers. Another memorable experiences I had at my school was when I made the varsity cheer team my junior year. It was so fun being on the team. I made closer friends on the cheer team then I did on the football team and I was in football longer. But what I liked about being on the cheer team was that it’s exciting and it’s a team sport – I think it’s the hardest sport out there. There is so much you have to memorize, so much to do in 2 minutes and 15 seconds. I love that feeling of fear and excitement you get before they call your school to go on the mat to perform.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I will be studying biology my first two years as my major. Then later on I will move on to chiropractic studies at a university or chiropractic college and become a chiropractor.
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
I would like to travel around the U.S and go to every state. I have been to nine of the fifty. Later on, I will settle down in a log cabin in Durango, Colorado and be a chiropractor until I retire.
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
Carolina Gonzalez-Martinez
Attending The University of New Mexico
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience as a student at DNHS for academic was being able to receive my academic letter/bar in front of my family. For personal was being a Varsity Boys Basketball Manager and being able to go to state with them.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I plan to go into the medical field for physical therapy or a chiropractor.
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
Earn a job and help those in need.
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
Angelica Lucero
Attending New Mexico State University
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School would have to be playing on the varsity soccer team for 4 years. It taught me so many valuable lessons like how to be a leader and how to work together as a team. The soccer team became my forever family.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I intend to study Veterinary Medicine at New Mexico State University
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
After college I would like to open my own vet clinic or travel around the world and help animals in need after mass destruction
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
Timothy Maddox
Attending Central New Mexico Community College
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
The most memorable moment I have is being the Drum Major to the DNHS Marching Band, because I had the best time being a role model to all of the younger students, and leading them through all the competitions that we had been to like Zia and POB. I have loved working with all of my band members.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I intend to study engineering then eventually study Nuclear engineering at UNM.
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
I want to possibly work at one of the labs in New Mexico like Sandia or Los Alamos.
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
Eliseo David Medina
Attending Central New Mexico Community College
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School was being able to represent myself as a Knight. Being a student athlete is both rewarding and difficult, and I enjoyed it immensely. I was proud to be wearing turquoise, black and white while competing on the golf course.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I would like to being course work to become a physical therapist.
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
My plans after graduation from college include beginning my coaching career. My ideal job is to coach men’s college basketball.
2020 AlumKnights Drawbridge to Success Scholarship Recipient
Jasmine Tata
Attending The University of New Mexico
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
Overall, my time in high school has been a journey to determine what I want to pursue as well as one with many lessons on how to do that. Though this can be said for the entire experience, every discovery has a tipping point. In this case, huge strides were made when my AP Physics 2 class decided to engage in a governor’s STEM challenge. With my career goal still wavering, this was an incredible opportunity to either solidify or weed out a direction I’d long since planned for. I was able to learn a lot through our team working together to create a functioning and unique device with benefiting the environment in mind. Our final decision was a soil moisture sensor with an intuitive display for different water levels corresponding to different colored lights. Through this I was able to experience on a smaller scale what I wanted to do and with that, further pinpoint my dreams.
What do you intend to study at your college or university?
I plan to study engineering with a possibility of a minor in environmental science. The type of engineering fluctuates; I hope to find what will best suit my interests and goals with the environment.
What do you want to do after you graduate from college?
When I graduate from college, I’d like to pursue my lifelong goal of helping the environment through creation. Though I haven’t determined which specific job will best help me achieve this, I want to be making something that will help the environment and with that all people.
Skilled Trades Scholarship
The Skilled Trades Scholarship provides one year of support to graduating seniors who are interested in pursuing a career-oriented, technical, or vocational program of study at a community college or trade school and are a able to demonstrate a commitment to working in a relevant career field.
2020 AlumKnights Skilled Trades Scholarship Recipient
Rey Campa
Attending Central New Mexico Community College
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School was when I went to my first football game.
What do you intend to study after you graduate from high school?
I intend to study business and mechanics to learn more about cars, and how business is handled in the U.S.
What do you hope to do in your career after you graduate from college or your apprenticeship program?
I hope to run my own business after I graduate from college, starting off as a mechanic. Then making clothes and accessories.
2020 AlumKnights Skilled Trades Scholarship Recipient
Andrew Carrillo
Attending Central New Mexico Community College
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience as a student was my senior night/senior game. It was my most memorable moment because it was my last football game ever. It was also my most memorable moment because I got to spend it with my friends and my family.
What do you intend to study after you graduate from high school?
I intend to study welding after I graduate from high school.
What do you hope to do in your career after you graduate from college or your apprenticeship program?
My hopes for this career after I graduate is I one day hope to work on oil rigs.
Dianne Riley Erickson Nursing Scholarship
The Dianne Riley Erickson Nursing Scholarship provides up to four years of support to graduating seniors who are interested in pursuing a four-year post-secondary degree in Nursing anywhere in the United States and are able to demonstrate an exemplary record of service, academic achievement, and commitment to the Nursing profession. In college year one, the student receives $1,000 followed by increasing amounts in their college years two, three and four. The scholarship honors 1966 DNHS graduate Dianne Riley Erickson who worked at numerous area hospitals.
2020 AlumKnights Dianne Riley Erickson Nursing Scholarship Recipient
Angela Navarro
Attending Central New Mexico Community College
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
My most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School is the day I applied for this scholarship. I was so happy that my teacher told me about this scholarship and I’m grateful that she helped me apply also. I will never forget how happy I was sitting in class reading the email saying that the Del Norte High School AlumKnights wanted to interview me.
Why do you want to pursue a career in the nursing profession?
Why I want to pursue a career in nursing is because it will be exciting to make a difference in people’s lives. As well, nursing will push me to my limits; also, the fast past work so you can always be working.
2020 AlumKnights Dianne Riley Erickson Nursing Scholarship Recipient
Abigail Yepa
Attending The University of New Mexico
What was your most memorable experience as a student at Del Norte High School?
Being a Senior is my most memorable experience at DNHS, certainly in more ways than expected. I’ve really enjoyed during free periods, both studying with friends and doing things together. I’ve enjoyed my studies this year, probably more than making friendships that I hope last a long time and building relationships with teachers that I love and trust. I’ve had more fun than I ever have before. This has been and will continue to be the most memorable experience I’ve had as a student at DNHS.
Why do you want to pursue a career in the nursing profession?
I want to serve others, and I’ve always been fascinated with the human body. I’m empathetic and caring, and always willing to help. This COVID-19 Pandemic has also had an impact on me as well, and it made me realize further that nurses are among the few essential jobs that have kept the world running in this time of crisis, and there is a need for more.
Donation Information
If you are interested in supporting future AlumKnights Scholarship awards, please consider making a tax-deductible donation to AlumKnights, Inc., a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.
To donate, simply press the “Donate” button below.
You can also mail us a check. Just make the check payable to “AlumKnights, Inc.”, complete our AlumKnights Donation Form and mail it and the check to:
AlumKnights, Inc.
P.O. Box 93056
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87199
When you purchase either a small or large brick for the Del Norte Legacy Brick Garden, the proceeds go to the scholarship fund. A portion of the cost is tax deductible. For more information, visit our Brick Garden Fundraiser page.
Send inquiries to treasurer@alumknights.info