James Ledwith Memorial Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Albuquerque Community Foundation

Purpose and background
The James Ledwith Memorial Scholarship Fund was created in 2011 by family and friends of James Ledwith and is held at the Albuquerque Community Foundation. Its purpose is to help students who have experienced significant life hardships but have continued to pursue their dreams with hope, faith, and courage. Awards support post‑secondary study that advances a student’s life dream and professional or educational goals.

Motto
For hope, faith and courage to pursue dreams in the face of adversity.

Who is eligible
- Graduating high school seniors who live in the Albuquerque metropolitan area (Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, or Sandoval counties).
- Applicants must have confronted and worked to overcome an extraordinary life challenge during their high school years.
- The student must be planning to enroll full‑time at an accredited nonprofit or public post‑secondary institution (two‑ or four‑year college/university).
- Applicants should demonstrate the ability to succeed academically and show how this scholarship will assist them in reaching their goals.

Award details
- One or two scholarships are awarded each year.
- Each award is for up to $2,000.
- Funds must be used for post‑secondary education expenses at an accredited nonprofit or public institution.

Required application materials (complete packets only)
To be considered, an application must include all of the following:
1. Official high school transcript.
2. Personal essay (see prompts below).
3. Two letters of reference (see specifications below).

Personal essay — address all three items
- Describe your life dream and your professional or educational goals.
- Explain the extraordinary life challenge you faced during your high school years and the steps you have taken to continue pursuing your dreams despite that adversity.
- Describe ways you have shown thoughtfulness and service to others.

Letters of reference — required details
- Reference letters should specifically address how the applicant meets the scholarship’s intent: having faced and overcome extraordinary challenges in high school while continuing to pursue their goals. Each writer must state their role or relationship to the applicant.
- Letter 1: Must come from a member of your high school staff or faculty (teacher, administrator, or activity sponsor). This letter must explain how the applicant confronted an extraordinary life challenge during high school and describe the writer’s relationship to the student.
- Letter 2: Should be from someone whose life has been positively affected by the applicant (community or activity sponsor, employer, minister, coach, teacher, etc.). This letter must also describe the extraordinary life challenge the applicant faced during high school and explain how the applicant’s example impacted the letter writer; it must identify the writer’s relationship to the applicant.

Selection and notification
- The Albuquerque Community Foundation selection committee will review completed applications.
- Selected recipients will be notified by mail and their names will be posted on the Foundation’s web page.
- The recipient’s high school will be informed so the student can be recognized, for example, at the Senior Honors Assembly.

Before you apply
Please read James Ledwith’s story prior to submitting an application.

Only fully completed applications that include a transcript, the required personal essay, and both required letters of recommendation will be evaluated.