Colorado P.E.O. and Cottey College
Stewardship of Cottey comes in many forms and comes from many people, especially P.E.O.s. Over the years, Colorado P.E.O.s have shown their support for Cottey in a variety of ways. Supporting Cottey benefits students, faculty, the facility, and one of the missions of the sisterhood – “Women helping women reach for the stars.”
Colorado P.E.O.s have been avid supporters of the Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund (CCSF) and the Colorado young women who receive these awards. Now that the fund is part of the P.E.O. Foundation, gifts from individuals are tax-deductible!
Thank you, Colorado P.E.O.s for your continued endeavors. Please use this website to explore new ways of helping and/or reaffirm support done in the past.
Basic Information – Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund
The Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund (CCSF) is a state project established in 1992 for scholarships, through endowments, to Colorado Cottey College students. It is supported solely by individuals and chapters who are encouraged to give annually. The P.E.O. Foundation manages the fund while the Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund Committee oversees the application and award process. Scholarships may be granted annually based on the accumulated interest and fund principal in excess of a required minimum principal balance of $5,000.00 as reported by the P.E.O. Foundation. Other scholarships may also be awarded annually.
Eligibility, Application, and Payment Process
All residents of Colorado accepted to Cottey are eligible and encouraged to apply for a scholarship from this fund. Scholarships are based primarily on academic achievement. Consideration may also be given for a student’s character, participation in activities, and leadership roles. Once the student has been accepted, Cottey notifies the Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund Chair, who sends an application to the student. Colorado residency, official transcripts, and letters of recommendation must be included with the completed application and post-marked no later than January 31. Selection notification is announced in March. Each recipient and the Financial Aid Director of Cottey is notified following selection and the awards are publicized at the Colorado State convention and put on the Colorado State website.
Chapter Cottey College Chair
Every state, province, and district within the P.E.O. sisterhood chooses how to organize their support of Cottey. The Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund committee encourages each chapter to appoint a Chapter Cottey College Chair so one designated person can keep members informed of Cottey and encourages its promotion, recruitment, and referrals. It is important each chapter seek out potential students and submit an online referral card for them.
The responsibilities for the Chapter Cottey College Chair are to give a report at each meeting on timely topics and deadlines, help members recognize potential students within their networks, encourage visits to Cottey, and introduce Cottey to students, school counselors, youth leaders, and other groups supporting women’s education.
Gifting to the Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund
What better way to support a Colorado Cottey student than with a scholarship gift from P.E.O.s in her home state! Annual gifting from chapters and individuals is vital for the continued success of the fund. Click here for the CSC Donation Form.
Checks from chapters should be made payable to Colorado State Chapter and mailed to:
Susan Landers, CSC Executive Treasurer
610 Pinewood Lane
Estes Park, CO 80517
Individuals can make tax-deductible gifts in the form of cash/checks, bequests in wills, marketable securities, beneficiary of living trusts, retirement plan assets, or life insurance policies. Cash gifts should be made by check payable to P.E.O. Foundation and mailed to 3700 Grand Ave., Des Moines, IA 50312. Note “Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund” in the memo. Please contact CSC Executive Treasurer for a donation form or click on the link below.
For more information please contact:
Melissa Davis-Perez, Chapter GM
auntem_988@msn.com
(719) 469-5375
Colorado State Chapter Donation Form
Supporting Cottey College Students
Support from back home creates a meaningful bond between P.E.O. members and Colorado Cottey students. Receiving various forms of encouragement from P.E.O.s is always uplifting.
Cottey, located in Nevada, Missouri, is hundreds of miles away so making a connection with a Colorado student makes Cottey more personal and real. It also lets the student know P.E.O.s back home care about her and her educational career. Chapters can adopt a student for the entire year or send periodic cards and care packages. Support for students living in the Colorado Thompson Suite and the Colorado Minear Suite are also encouraged.
Please contact any member of the CCSF – Colorado Cottey Scholarship Fund committee for information on adopting a student and/or sending gifts to our Colorado Suites.
Cash – Cash or checks for undesignated funds MUST BE $49 OR UNDER. Any amount above $50 is considered income and will affect the student’s financial aid.
Gift cards – Any amount for a local store (i.e. Walmart) is acceptable as it will not affect the student’s financial aid
Int’l Trip – As part of their tuition, each second year/sophomore student takes a school-sponsored, international trip. Since the student is responsible for meals and incidentals, financial support is welcomed. Checks can be made out to the student with the memo line and accompanying letter specifying “International Experience Trip” so the gift qualifies as a college expense and does not affect her financial aid.
Tuition – Contact the Cottey College financial aid office before sending a check to a student.
Non-financial support ideas – When a card or package arrives for a student or suite, it makes an ordinary day very special. Birthday, holiday, and encouragement cards are always appreciated. Food and personal items are very popular also.
Support Students
cottey.edu/PEO/Support
Need help? Navigating through this information can be overwhelming but talking to a Colorado Cottey College committee member is easy. We’re here to help you with any of your efforts!
Important, Please Read…
All applicants must have been accepted to Cottey College before applying for this scholarship. When submitting your application, please attach the following documents: transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a current photo.
COTTEY COLLEGE AND COLORADO
COTTEY COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE
CSC Treasurer serves as Adviser
Melissa Davis, GM (2021-2024)
auntem_988@msn.com
719-469-5375
Molly Bean, FO (2022-2025)
molly.crouse@hotmail.com
720-206-7719
Paula Clinedinst, EM (2023-2026)
cotteyterp@gmail.com
303-793-0700
Local Scholarships
Throughout the state, several P.E.O. chapters and reciprocities offer scholarships to Colorado Cottey students. A student who has been accepted to Cottey is eligible for several Colorado-related scholarships.
DACC
“The Denver Area Cottey Club (DACC) worked with Cottey College to establish an Endowed Scholarship Fund to be managed by Cottey to award scholarships to Denver Area Cottey students. The DACC raises money throughout each year for the fund. See the Cottey College website (Cottey.edu) for Financial Aid Criteria. Anyone who wishes to support Denver Area Students attending Cottey may make a tax-deductible donation directly to Cottey College noting that the donation is for the Denver Area Cottey Club Endowed Scholarship Fund. For more information, please contact:
Molly Bean, FO
molly.crouse@hotmail.com
(720) 206-7719
PUEBLO GRANTS IN AID –
The Pueblo Reciprocity group has an established fund which provides scholarships/grants for women pursuing higher education. The Pueblo Grants in Aid (GIA) program is available to Pueblo area women, including those attending Cottey College. For more information, please contact:
Louise Welsby, DU
lwelsby@comcast.net
(719) 250-6781
On-Campus Scholarships and Employment
Numerous scholarships are available to Colorado Cottey students that are managed by Cottey. They are based on academic merit, extracurricular activities, leadership, and athletic performance. Federal work-study and other campus employment opportunities can also help with tuition or indirect educational costs. For more information, contact the Enrollment Management office at enrollmgt@cottey.edu or 888-5-COTTEY or go to www.cottey.edu/admission/tuition-and-fees/grants-and-scholarships.
Chapter Resources & Programs
Cottey College Programs & Resources for local chapters:
There are many resources available for local chapters on the P.E.O. International website – members only – P.E.O. Projects – Cottey College. Resources include a Local Chapter Meeting Report, Cottey College Videos, Cottey Care Package List, and more. You can also find “quick links” to Cottey along with admission and scholarship information. Check out the great online videos which can be used when making presentations or having informal, informational conversations.
Recruiting Options:
Many times prospective students learn about Cottey from someone who has taken just one extra step to complete and submit a referral card. Other P.E.O.s are “Volunteer Recruiters” who meet with students, attend high school events, talk with high school counselors, teachers, or coaches, participate in college fairs, and talk with community members who work with teens.
Often the first reaction to an all-women’s school is negative. By offering a few key benefits (i.e. International trip, Leadership Institute, 10 to 1 professor to student ratio, safe campus, numerous scholarships), that attitude may turn into a positive, sparking a legitimate interest in Cottey.
Referring a Student
Sometimes we limit ourselves to thinking we can only refer our relatives or relatives of close friends to Cottey when the average person knows more than 1,500 people! Although you may not personally know any high school students, chances are many people in your network do. The future of our school depends on P.E.O.s letting the Cottey staff know about potential students.
Experiencing the meaning of P.E.O. often comes outside chapter meetings and one of the best ways to support the organization and the educational opportunities it offers women is through Cottey College. Thanks to the recent Defining Moment campaign and the expanding outreach to P.E.O.s, alumnae and the “Cottey College – Going Places” campaign, the goal to increase enrollment from 300 to 500 young women is within reach!
Going Above and Beyond
Besides the annual scholarships awarded from the CCCSF, and according to the committee bylaws, the following may be given each year:
First-year student –
$1,000 in honor of Chapter President Chapter President
Second-year student –
$1,000 in honor of Virginia Corbett, the first Colorado State Chapter President
Third-year student –
$1,000 in honor of the current Colorado State Chapter President
Fourth-year student –
$1,000 in honor of Chellie Stevens Wright, Colorado State Chapter President 1924-1925 and Past P.E.O. Supreme Chapter President 1937-1939