East High School enjoys a long tradition of philanthropy and benefits from the rich resources of alumni, parents, and the Denver community. The East Angel Foundation, with the support of this vibrant community, has a dedicated volunteer Scholarship Committee charged with dispersing scholarship funds to graduating seniors according to the criteria of the many dedicated funds and the values that embody East High School’s history: diversity, academia, character, and community involvement.
The Scholarship Committee is deeply committed to fairness and equity in awarding the EAF Scholarships as financial aid. While some scholarships may seem based on merit, the Committee’s primary goal is to ensure that the neediest applicant who meets a scholarship’s criteria is awarded the scholarship. This commitment to fairness and equity is the cornerstone of our selection process.
In 2024, the East Angel Foundation achieved a significant milestone, awarding 32 students a total of $103,000, setting a new record for the scholarship since its establishment in 1926. This marked an encouraging increase from 2023, when 27 students received $92,000.
As of 2024, the East Angel Scholarship program had awarded $1,005,000 to 484 students, a testament to the impact of our collective support.
If you are passionate about supporting students and want to make a lasting impact, we encourage you to consider donating to the Scholarship Fund or establishing a new scholarship award through the East Angel Foundation. Your contribution could make a significant difference in a student’s life. To discuss this opportunity or to support an existing scholarship, please contact Greg Graeber at ggraeber@mindspring.com. All donations are tax-deductible. Thank you for your support!
Dedicated Scholarships for the Class of 2025
The Cleworth LEAP Scholarship — $100,000 given as $25,000 per year over four years. It was established in 2016 by Monty Cleworth (Class of 1978). This scholarship is awarded annually to facilitate the recipient’s ability to make the ‘LEAP’ to continued excellence and enroll at the highest caliber postsecondary institution. It is a need-based award focused on outstanding academic and extra-curricular performance. Please note that this scholarship has a separate application process, and the application will be available in January 2025. You can apply here.
The East Alumni Scholarship — $6,000: Established in 1995 and continued today through the generous donations of East alumni, this scholarship is awarded to the most outstanding Angel, determined by academic achievement and school and community participation.
The Thomas W. Bean Foundation Scholarship—$7,000: This annual award is a testament to the transformative power of education. Established by the foundation of Thomas Washington Bean, an astute African American business pioneer, this scholarship is a beacon of hope for seniors who have overcome life difficulties and exemplify the hope and achievement inspired by Thomas Bean. It is a reminder that education can transform lives and inspire hope.
The James Reece, Class of 1960 Scholarship — $4,000:An annual merit-based award from the James Reece Foundation. A graduate of the Class of 1960, James Reece was a lifelong educator who attended Yale University and earned master’s and doctoral degrees from Harvard Business School. The scholarship rewards a graduating senior through their annual gift for outstanding academic achievement.
The Class of 1967, 1968, and 1969 Scholarship — $5,000: Initiated by Beth Woodard (1968), this annual award is from the generous contributions of the classes of 1967 – 1969, many of whom remain actively involved. This need-based scholarship focuses on academic merit and community/school service.
2024 – 2025 Key Dates
- November 2025: Applications available via East Angel Foundation Website
- March 21st, 2025: Applications due
- April 8-10, 2025: In-person Interviews
- May 2025: Scholarships awarded
East Angel Foundation Scholarships, General Requirements:
In addition to the five dedicated scholarships, the East Angel Foundation awards additional scholarships to graduating seniors through the application process:
- Demonstrated need/Expected Family Contribution (EFC), now called the Student Aid Index (SAI). Each student is required to submit an estimate before the finalization of the form in 2025.
- Personal Statement & Essay
- two teacher recommendations
- one community recommendation
- In-person interview
The Cleworth LEAP Scholarship
The Cleworth LEAP Scholarship is a $100,000 award, which provides $25,000 annually for up to four years. It is based on exceptional academic performance as per the criteria outlined below. This scholarship aims to support the recipient in pursuing the ‘LEAP’ to continued excellence and enrolling at the highest caliber postsecondary institution. The scholarship is granted to a senior at East High School who has been enrolled at East High School for at least three years. The recipient will be notified of the award in mid-April.
Criteria:
- The student must have completed the FAFSA and share the FAFSA SAI (Student Aid Index) along with documentation of any other financial assistance, and, if necessary, sign a FERPA waiver to facilitate the orchestration of the award with the postsecondary institution selected by the student. The student’s SAI, according to FAFSA, may not exceed $50,000. If your SAI is not calculated, please still submit it.
- Student must have a 3.75 unweighted GPA and submit student transcript
- SAT, ACT, and AP test scores, if available
- A list of Universities and Colleges from which the candidate has received offers of admission must be submitted by April 1st, 2025, along with an indication of your top three choices and summaries of financial aid offers as applicable.
- Submit your personal statement/college essay
- Participate in a committee interview in April 2025.
How to Apply:
Complete the Google form application. You can only submit once; the form will not save your answers. You can work on it offline or on a separate document and then paste your answers. YOU MUST SUBMIT A COMPLETE APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED! If you have any questions or concerns, please email Renee Ferrufino at ferrufinort@gmail.com.
Please note: The Cleworth LEAP Scholarship is a separate application. All other EAFAF scholarships are evaluated separately.
Scholarship History
In 1926, representatives from the classes of 1923, 1924, 1925, and 1926, along with Principal Roscoe C. Hill, established “The Alumni Scholarship Fund of East High School of Denver, Colorado.” The four classes contributed a total of $1,299.14 to begin the fund. It was “hoped and expected” that further graduating classes of East and other alumni would make further contributions. A legal document was created, and a distribution committee was established. After an initial period of activity, the fund became dormant.
In 1995, former East High Principal James E. Tracy (Class of 1950) encouraged the Foundation to re-initiate the program. The Alumni board re-activated the scholarship trust and began distributing Alumni Scholarships annually to outstanding graduating East Seniors.
Since the creation of EAFAF in 2011, the scholarship program has been supported, managed, and funded by the Foundation volunteers and its generous contributors. East alumni or interested community members can provide funds to dedicate scholarships on behalf of a family member or classmate or in honor of a graduating classmate. Within EAFAF, a dedicated Scholarship Committee of seven members oversees the awards and distribution of funds. Awards are based on specified qualifications, recommendations, a written application, and an in-person interview. Donations to our scholarship program may be made via our donation page at Colorado Gives—please indicate Student Scholarships in the comments. All donations are tax-deductible. If you would like to set up a specific named scholarship, please contact us, and you will be directed to the appropriate person.
Contacts
- Renee Ferrufino (The Cleworth LEAP Scholarship)
ferrufinort@gmail.com - Greg Graeber (EAFAF Scholarship Committee)
scholarships@eastangelfriends.org - Beth Woodard (EAFAF Scholarship Committee)
scholarships@eastangelfriends.org