Michael A. Bentley Memorial Endowed Scholarship

Purpose:
This fund has been established, at the request of Michael Bentley, with the goal of helping Adams City High School students successfully complete their first year of studies at Metropolitan State University (MSU).

Michael Bentley was a science teacher at Adams City Middle and Adams City High School for more than 20 years, retiring in 2013 after being diagnosed with cancer. At that time, he decided to create a scholarship fund that would be set up to help students at the high school realize their goals of becoming teachers. Mr. Bentley was a science enthusiast. He loved being a teacher and being able to share his knowledge and curiosity about science. He wanted to encourage more students to look at the great profession of teaching. As he looked back over his college years, he realized that the first year was the most challenging. He personally felt that the transition from high school to college had been very difficult and that he had struggled to find the support he needed to be successful.

This scholarship, to be used for the academic programs available at MSU Denver, will help students succeed in that difficult first year. The scholarship is offered to students who have graduated from Adams City High School and have been accepted to MSU Denver with the end goal of obtaining Colorado certification to teach science, math, technology, or STEM. The scholarship is offered through MSU Denver because of their C2 Hub Program. This program supports Mr. Bentley’s desire to assist these Adams City students in their first year. It is renewable each year thereafter if the student meets established criteria.

Criteria:
• Be meeting the University’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements and cannot be in default or owe any refund/repayment of federal, state or institutional aid
• Be a new or continuing student from Adams City High School
• Be taking a minimum of 6 credit hours during the semester(s) the scholarship is received
• Participate in the University’s Scholarship Support & Retention Services which provides the academic resources to make academic success a reality for all students.

There is a preference for students pursuing a university degree that will lead to a teacher licensure.

ASSET students are eligible.

It’s the Donor’s wish that, insofar as possible based upon available funds, recipients be given a $1,000.00 per year split between fall and spring semesters.

This scholarship is renewable for up to three academic years (contingent on available funds). If funds are available, the Donor wishes that any student who has received the scholarship for three consecutive years will receive a $500 bonus scholarship during the semester of student teaching.