$11.6 Million Scholarship Program Provides Full Scholarship for 25 New Mexican First-Generation College Students Each Year

May 11, 2017

Twenty five students who will be first in their families to earn a four-year college degree will attend college on a full scholarship this upcoming Fall thanks to the generosity of Santa Fe resident Andrew Davis and his family’s foundation. The scholarship program, which has already provided scholarships for 29 students from New Mexico, was launched in 2016 by Mr. Davis, Breakthrough Santa Fe, and Santa Fe Preparatory School.

The Davis New Mexico Scholarship is entering the first year of a three year, 11.6 million dollar commitment from Mr. Davis and the Shelby Cullom Davis Charitable Fund. Mr. Davis’ aim is to provide unprecedented access to higher education for students who have successfully completed rigorous college preparatory coursework in high school and who have completed college access programs around the state. “We want to bring outstanding New Mexican students to colleges and universities across the country,” explains Mr. Davis. “Our state has inquisitive and inspiring young minds, and they deserve the opportunity to expand their horizons and to better themselves and college campuses in the process.” Accordingly, the scholarship is the largest private scholarship in state history designed to support New Mexican students who want to pursue higher education outside of the state.

Through the Davis New Mexico Scholarship, Andrew Davis is addressing a deep need in our community. Statewide, fewer than 1 in 3 New Mexicans ages 25-34 have attained a college degree,[1]and in 2015, New Mexico received a D+ on a national report grading states on how well they prepare students for college and careers.[2] The Davis New Mexico Scholarship addresses these challenges by providing college readiness programs for students before they enter college and then supporting them completely as they pursue a college degree. Thus far, the scholarship program has been successful in its mission; to date, the program boasts a 100% college retention rate.  

“The Davis New Mexico Scholarship does not just impact me,” explains José A. Martinez, a Davis New Mexico Scholar and a senior at Santa Fe Preparatory School who will attend St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX in the fall. “The scholarship shows my community and my family that a student like me can go on to earn a college degree. I love helping people, and when I graduate I want to get a job that not only helps me have a good life, but also improves the lives of others.”

This year, awardees come from the most successful college-prep programs for underserved students: Breakthrough Santa Fe, the New Mexico Simon Scholars Program, College Horizons, and AVID in Santa Fe Public Schools. Scholars hail from across Northern New Mexico and currently attend high school at Academy for Technology and the Classics, Native American Community Academy, the MASTERS Program, Santa Fe Preparatory School, Santa Fe High School, Navajo Preparatory School, Middle College High School, South Valley Academy, Monte del Sol Charter School, Capital High School, Albuquerque High School, and New Mexico School for the Arts. They will be attending college at one of six Davis New Mexico Scholarship Partner Colleges: University of Portland, St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX), University of Denver, Lawrence University (Appleton, WI), Southwestern University (Georgetown, TX), and Loyola Marymount University (Los Angeles, CA).

The Davis New Mexico Scholarship covers tuition, room, board, travel, books, incidentals, and even provides a stipend for parents to visit their son or daughter in college each year. Awardees must be the first in their families to earn a four-year college degree and/or have a family income under 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. “The goal of the scholarship is to provide students with everything they need to be successful when they attend school,” explains Sam Ritter, the director of the Davis New Mexico Scholarship. “Davis New Mexico Scholars have the academic prowess to excel at their chosen institutions, and our responsibility is to make sure they are adequately supported to achieve to their fullest potential.” 

The Davis New Mexico Scholarship goes beyond helping students pay for college. Through its grants program, it has awarded over $250,000 to organizations and schools working to improve college access for low income and first-generation students throughout the state. Scholars also receive orientations, workshops, and case management to ease the transition from high school to college, a model that works in conjunction with the student services at Davis New Mexico Scholarship Partner Colleges. Together, the network of high school, collegiate, and college-access partners form the core that ensures success for Davis New Mexico Scholars.

This year’s 25 scholars are part of a growing group of Davis New Mexico Scholars nationwide. “Over the next three years, I am looking forward to seeing this program continue to grow, and my $11.6 million pledge is a sign of our commitment to these students and to my community,” explains Davis. “We have tremendous young people here, and I am honored to support them in their dreams of attaining a college degree.”

[1] “New Mexico Ranked 49th in national education report,” Santa Fe New Mexican, January 8, 2015

[2] New Mexico Higher Education Department Annual Report, 2013