Dr. Karen Thorpe Endowed Scholarship

Purpose:
The Fund is established by Kathye Thomas to provide scholarships to MSU Denver students in memory of her wife, Dr. Karen Thorpe, who served as Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Student Life at MSU Denver until 1994. Karen is credited with creating the first MLK Peace Breakfast at MSU Denver in 1992. Upon her departure, she said “… this is a great job. I’ve worked with some wonderful, wonderful people, some highly skilled professionals. And the students, oh gosh. The students have just been outstanding.” Karen was born Dec. 10, 1949, in Parkersburg, W.Va. She received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Marshall University in Huntington, W.Va, and earned a doctorate in student Personnel administration from the University of Northern Colorado. She died in 2022.

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.
. Have financial need as determined by FAFSA/CASFA and the University’s Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
. Complete the University’s general scholarship application.
. Have a declared major in one of the following areas: Early Childhood Education, Elementary Education, Secondary & K-12 Education, Special Education, Instructional Technology, the Department of Africana Studies, the Gender Institute for Teaching and Advocacy or the Department of Chicana/o Studies.
. Be enrolled in at least six credit hours during the semester the scholarship is awarded.
. Write an essay of at least 500 words that addresses the following:
“Describe how you relate to the experience or challenges of women of color in any of the required degree programs of this scholarship.”

Preference is for:
. Recipients having junior or senior class standing.
. To support two students annually.

DACA/ASSET students are eligible