By Teresa L. Benns
CENTER — The 2018 Center High School academic awards program was held Monday, May 14 in the George Welsh Auditorium at Center Schools and the usual reception for award winners and their families followed the award presentations.
Ray and Colette Skeff opened up the awards presentation with Ray Skeff’s usual banter. Skeff gave a brief history of the awards, which he said will last as long as he and his wife are alive. Scholarships of $750 each went to Malyka Medina and Andres Almeida.
Stephanie Archuleta then honored Science Fair winners Aaliyah Garcia Kristine Hoffner, Kelvin Knapp and Obed Perez. Next, Roger Mix from the Colorado Potato Adminstrative presented the $2,000, one-year Spud Bowl Scholarship to Malyka Medina.
Principal Kevin Jones handed out certificates for Outstanding Academic Achievement for those maintaining a 3.50 GPA for the year (not in a sport): Mackayla Arellano, Jesse Bencomo, Brisa Castillo-Miranda, Angel DeHerrera, Jessica Garrison, Mariela Hernandez-Munoz, Javier Leon-Villegas, Omar Mendoza-Loya, Jessenia Portillo and Denise Quintero-Mora.
Minds in Motion awards were presented by Principal Kevin Jones and Debra Lujan to the following students with a 3.5 GPA or better over three quarters plus and one or more sports activities: Andres Almeida, Natalia Cendejas, Azia DeHerrera, Delores Estrada Hernandez, Aaliyah Garcia, Cristian Guaderrama, Carlos Lopez, Malyka Medina, Jasmine Rodriguez, Camille Ruggles, Alexis Sanchez-Duran and Elexus Trujillo. Principal Kevin Jones awarded the Viking Athletic Association Scholarship for $1,000 to Camille Ruggles.
Masonic Lodge members Tom Templeton and Warren Weaver named Timothy Hunter Paiz the outstanding junior boy and Aaliyah Garcia outstanding junior girl.
Kiwanis Club member Richard Ramstetter presented $1,000 scholarships to Denise Quintero-Mora, AnelT. Tovar and Cristian Guaderrama. Ramstetter presented the Jim Miller Scholarship for $1,000-to Fidel Villa and the Ron Pearce Scholarship for $1,000 to Alexis Sanchez-Duran.

Adams State University
Scholarships
Presented by Russell Shawcroft
and Sam Sargent
• Ulysses Aguilar - Grizzly Partner, $3,200
• Andres Almeida - Grizzly Partner, $3200; SLV Promise, $2,800, federal Pell grant, $5,920 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Isaiah Archuleta - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; SLV Promise, $2,800; Vice President’s Scholarship, $1,000; federal Pell grant-$5,920 and Colorado Student-$2,000
• Josselyn Duran - Grizzly Partner - $3,200; Vice President’s Merit, $1,000; SLV Promise - $2,800; federal Pell grant, $5,929 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Cristian Guaderrama - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; SLV Promise, $2,800; federal Pell grant, $5,920 and
Colorado Student, $2,000
• Mariela Hernandez-Munoz - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; SLV Promise, $2,800; federal Pell grant, $5,920 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Donovan Lujan - Grizzly Partner, $3,200
• Omar Mendoza-Loya - Grizzly Partner, $3,200
• Malyka Medina - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; Vice President’s Merit Scholarship, $1,000 federal Pell grant, $5,270 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Hanna Montoya - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; Vice President’s Merit Scholarship, $1,000;
federal Pell grant, $2,603 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Deja O’Cana - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; SLV Promise, $2,800; federal Pell grant, $5,920
Colorado Student, $2,000
• Donovan Olvera-Cruz - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; federal Pell grant, $4,270 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Leslie Padilla - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; federal Pell grant, $5,920 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Denise Quintero-Mora - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; SLV Promise, $2,800; federal Pell grant, $5,920 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Jasmine Rodriguez - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; Vice President’s Scholarship, $1,000; SLV Promise, $2,800; federal Pell grant $5,920 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Camille Ruggles - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; President’s Merit, $1,500; federal Pell grant, $5,370
Colorado Student, $2,000
• Alexis Sanchez-Duran - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; Vice President’s Merit Scholarship, $1,000
Valedictorian, $1,000; federal Pell grant $5,770 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Edith Soria - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; federal Pell grant, $5,920; Colorado Student, $2,000
• Anel Tovar - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; SLV Promise, $2,800; federal Pell grant, $5920 and Colorado Student, $2,000
• Fidel Villa - Grizzly Partner, $3,200; federal Pell grant, $4,470 and Colorado Student, $2,000

Trinidad State Junior College Scholarships
Presented by Michael Sisneros
Learn Local awards: Andres Almeida, Donovan Olvera-Cruz, Alexis Sanchez-Duran, Josselyn Duran, Cristian Guaderrama, Omar Mendoza-Loya, Malyka Medina, Hannah Montoya, Deja O’Cana, Denise Quintero-Mora, Jasmine Rodriguez, Camille Ruggles, Edith Soria, Anel Tovar, Fidel Villa
Auto Merit awards:  3.0-3.499 - Mariela Hernandez-Munoz, Leslie Padilla, Anel Tovar, Fidel Villa
STARS Scholarship were presented by Katrina Ruggles to Camille Ruggles.

Teacher Susan Banning announced that a $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to the Valedictorian Salutatorian (TBD) by the Center Education Association.
Adele Alfson announced that Aaliyah Garcia will win a $1,000 scholarship if she attends the Colorado School of Mines. The award is presented to those with math and/or science skills that may make him/her a good fit for one of the school’s degree programs in mathematics, engineering, applied science, or economics.
Alfson also announced that:
• Isaiah Archuleta and Omar Mendoza are the winners of the McCormick/Roesch Scholarship, receiving $500 each
• Cristian Guaderrama and Omar Mendoza-Loya will each receive Center Service Scholarships of $1,000.
• The Daughters of the American Revolution have selected Camille Ruggles as the winner of the Good Citizen Award for her qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Camille wrote an essay prompt to represent Center Schools. She won the local competition, and her essay was sent on to the next (state) level.