Scholarship Applications for 2025-2026 Academic Year: December 1, 2024 – March 1, 2025

Awarded annually in late Spring for the following academic year. Award amounts vary; most are one-time scholarships. Scholarships have a minimum of 2-3 year 4-H participation required. Applicants are ranked by the scholarship committee by specific scholarship criteria and 4-H accomplishments. As part of the Office of Engagement & Extension, Colorado 4-H awards scholarships to outstanding 4-H youth who have actively engaged in Colorado 4-H clubs for at least 3 years. The scholarship process is competitive and open from December 1, 2024, through March 1, 2025.

Scholarship recipients will be announced around May 2025. There are opportunities available for a variety of students, including for those attending CSU or other universities, trade school, junior colleges, transfer students, and continuing students.

To begin the application, click https://co4hfoundation.academicworks.com/ to see the scholarship opportunities available. Once signed in, the first step is to apply using the General Application, where specific questions will be asked to determine which of the scholarships you are eligible for using defined criteria.  For general questions please email OEE_4-H_Scholarships@colostate.edu.

Sign Up to create an account using a valid email address. *NEW Please review the password and multi-factor authorization information located here. Passwords must include 1 digit, 1 uppercase letter and 1 lowercase letter. Once you have created an account, log into your email to activate your account.

OR

Sign In to log in to an existing account *NEW Please review the password and multi-factor authorization information located here. 

• Complete and submit the General Application.
• Complete and submit Supplemental Application(s) if required.
• Review your Recommended opportunities (at the top of the Colorado 4-H Scholarship Application, hover over ‘Opportunities’ and then click, ‘Recommended’).
  • Some scholarships may ask additional questions specific to that particular scholarship. Click the ‘Apply’ button to answer any remaining questions.
  • If no action is required on a recommended scholarship, then your General and/or Supplemental application are all that is/are required.

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: All Colorado 4-H scholarships REQUIRE two letters of reference. Please give your references ample time to complete their letter on your behalf. Application is NOT complete without two reference letters.

The Colorado 4-H Scholarship Application is provided through AcademicWorks. While this is the same platform used by CSU and other institutions, you will need to create a different account for the Colorado 4-H application and are not required to have a student ID number for your institution to do so.

You may receive e-mails from AcademicWorks if you are selected for a scholarship or need to provide additional information for a scholarship opportunity. For letters of recommendation, you are asked to provide an e-mail address of a reference. To ensure proper e-mail delivery, please add no-reply@academicworks.com to spam filters.

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Audrey Sandstead 4-H Youth Scholarship – $1000
This scholarship of $1,000 is for current/former Colorado 4-H members planning to enroll as first-year students in the fall at Colorado State University. A first-year student can be defined as an incoming freshman or as a transfer student who will be completing their first year at CSU starting this fall. Applicants must be pursuing a degree in the College of Health and Human Sciences.

Bill & Barbara Holthaus 4-H Youth Scholarship – $1000 (3)
Three $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to outstanding 4-H members. The scholarships will be used to attend any four-year college or university in Colorado. Applicants must be former/current Colorado 4-H members with a minimum of 3 years of participation.

Charles & Margret Vezzetti Scholarship – $1,000
Charles and Margret Vezzetti have established a fund to provide a $1,000 scholarship for a Fremont County 4-H member to study agriculture at Colorado State University. Applicants must be high school seniors, Fremont County 4-H members, accepted at Colorado State University, and pursuing a degree in the College of Agricultural Sciences.

CCI (Colorado Counties Inc.) Foundation Youth Scholarship – $500 (5)
These $500 scholarships go to five current/former Colorado 4-H members who are high school seniors and will be attending a Colorado trade school, college, or university. Applicant must be a Colorado 4-H member and show proof of acceptance into a Colorado trade school, college, or university. Two letters of recommendation are required (one can be from your county extension agent).

CSU Fort Collins 4-H Freshman Award – $1000 (25)
The Colorado State University, Fort Collins, 4-H Freshman Award is awarded to high school seniors enrolled in the fall of 2025 as a degree seeking student in an on-campus program of study at Colorado State University. Applicants must be accepted into Colorado State University and have at least three years in the Colorado 4-H program (at least two years in high school). Leadership and/or service in 4-H, community, region will be considered. Colorado State University is providing 25 $1,000 awards

CSU Fort Collins 4-H Transfer Award – $1000 (5)
The Colorado State University, Fort Collins, transfer Award is awarded to newly incoming transfer students enrolled in the fall of 2025 as a degree seeking student in an on-campus program of study at Colorado State University. Applicants must be accepted into Colorado State University and have at least three years in the Colorado 4-H program (at least two years in high school). Leadership and/or service in 4-H, community, region will be considered. Colorado State University is providing five $1000 awards. 

Howard E. & Marjory M. Smith 4-H Youth Scholarship – $1000
Howard and Marjory Smith (longtime supporters of the Colorado 4-H program) established a scholarship to help defray college tuition costs for an outstanding Colorado 4-H high school senior. The scholarship provides $1,000 per year. Applicants must be high school seniors and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. Financial need will be considered.

Kimberling Family 4-H Youth Scholarship – $1000
This is one of three $1,000 Scholarship provided by the Kimberling family for a Colorado 4-H youth who has exhibited food animal projects and is enrolling in a pre-veterinarian or animal science program at Colorado State University.

Lowell & Verna Watts 4-H Scholarship – $1,000
This is a $1,000 Scholarship provided by Lowell & Verna Watts for a CSU student wishing to further their education abroad in the forms of study, fieldwork, practicum, internships, research abroad or other experiential learning which advances a student’s academic and professional aspirations related to international development. Applicants must have completed 5 or more years of 4-H project work and be accepted to a program or experiential learning opportunity related to international development.

Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply 4-H Youth Scholarship – $1000 (5)
Murdoch’s Ranch and Home Supply Company provides five $1,000 Scholarships to five Colorado 4-Hmembers wanting to pursue post-secondary education. Applicant must be a senior in high school, a current/former 4-H member, plan on attending an accredited college, university, or trade school in the Fall semester, and have a 2.0 GPA.

Portouw Photography 4-H Youth Scholarship – $1000
This scholarship of $1000 is provided by Shirley J. Portouw and her family. Applicants may be first-year or continuing students Colorado State University, must have been enrolled in and completed 4-H photography projects for at least three years, and preferably exhibited photography at the Colorado State Fair for at least two years. Recipients may re-apply for the Portouw scholarship a second time.