2015-05-29

Fort Morgan High School is the recipient of the scholarship funded through the Bloedorn Foundation Scholarship program. The Bloedorn Foundation, a long-standing supporter of education, provides one-time scholarships to worthy students who will be attending college in Colorado. This scholarship honors FMHS seniors who have demonstrated scholastic ability and academic promise.

Mohamed Abdirhiyan



(Mohamed Abdirhiyan)

Abdirhiyan plans on attending Morgan Community College while reaching for a major in Mechanical Engineering. Mohamed’s education started at the Compit Educational Center in Nairobi, Kenya. In 2013 he moved to Fort Morgan and is now ranked in the top 20% of his class. His accomplishments in Kenya include: Teacher’s Assistant – Compit Educational Center where he coordinated different types of mathematic sessions and helped grade tests; participated in the annual science congress in Kenya , and won the 10th grade biology contest. He was also a member of the Boy Scouts. Abdirhiyan was also very active in sports in Kenya as well, playing Cricket where he received a certificate and numerous medals in cross country.

In Fort Morgan he volunteered for community service at the Migrant Education Newcomers Academy, where he helped migrant students with assignments and translations. He participated and organized the cultural day at Fort Morgan Middle School. Abdirhiyan earned recognition as an Academic Scholar in 11th and 12th grade. He is the son of Jamal Husein.Aurora Baca



(Lauren Staley)

Baca plans to attend Colorado State University in Pueblo and major in Business. She has been on the Alpha Academic Honor Roll all four years and a member of the National Honor Society in 11th and 12th grade. Aurora was named the September Renaissance Student of the Month, is a Mustang Scholar and is also a member in the Gifted and Talented program. As a member of FCCLA she served as Vice President of Public Relations. Other organizations she has participated in include: LULAC, Jazz Band, Spirit Club, Prom Committee and a member of Freshman Connection 11th and 12th grade. As a participant in both tennis and basketball, she placed Academic All State, All Conference in Tennis and State Qualifier in tennis and basketball.

Aurora’s community service extends to Youth Tennis and Basketball Camps as well as assisting in Hillcrest Food Delivery. She is the daughter of Wendy Garcia and Javier Baca.Trevor Gerken

Gerken plans to major in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. Trevor is in the top 10% of his class and has been a member of National Honor Society presently serving as Secretary. He was Junior Class Secretary and currently serves as Chapter President of Fort Morgan FFA as well as District Vice President.

His FFA accomplishments are many: Chapter Vice President 2013-2014; organized a field trip for over 200 Fort Morgan School District 4th Graders; helped to pioneer a new way to recruit 8th Graders by using an Agrium based field trip; participated in the Parliamentary Procedures Team placing silver and bronze at districts; organize days to clean up our chapter’s farm and our chapters shop; served as the chairman of the nominating committee that selected the 2014-2015 Colorado State FFA Association Team and presented the report in front of 3,000 FFA members; Meining-Davis Scholarship recipient for Washington Leadership Conference; received Bronze for state proficiency application in Beef Production; and competed in the Job Interview Career Development Event and received Bronze. Trevor was also very active in Morgan County 4-H serving as Explorers 4-H Club President 2013-2014; Explorers 4-H Club Pacesetter; Morgan County Fair Catch-It Beef participant; Morgan County Fair Grand Champion Junior Leadership; Colorado State Fair Reserve Grand Champion Junior Leadership; Morgan County Citizenship Washington Focus Recipient; Club Representative for Morgan County Council; Morgan County Council Senator and participated in Morgan County Exchange. He is also a member of the Prom Committee.

In Drama Trevor played the lead role in the spring play 2012-2014 and participated in the Fall Musical Pit 2011-2014. As a participant in Band/Jazz Band he was Trombone Section Leader 2012-2015; also a member of CSU-Pueblo Honor Band; Combined League Honor Band; and Holyoke Honor Band. He was Football Team Captain 2014; Academic All-State, Honorable Mention All-Conference; and All-Conference. He worked as a Draftsman Intern for MMI International in Brush as a draftsman intern where his responsibilities entailed helping the draftsman at MMI organize all of the company’s drawing and helping to draw machinery on AutoCAD.

Trevor is a member of First Christian Church where he participated in a week long mission trip that included 40 hours of community service for Kansas City soup kitchens, homeless shelters and safe houses. Participated in First Christian Church Annual Chili Cook Off. Active member of Youth Group and served 20 hours of Community Service at Safe Houses, Homeless Shelters and Elderly Citizens Houses in Fort Morgan. Trevor is the son of Derek and Elise Gerken.

Harrison Hough



(Harrison Hough)

Hough plans to major in Construction Management at Colorado Mountain College in Steamboat Springs. He has placed in Honor Roll all four years of high school; was a member of Student Senate 10th Grade – 12th Grade; Boys State Delegate 11th Grade. Member of FBLA 9th – 12th Grade; Band 9th Grade. His sports accomplishments include Lettering in Cross Country 10th – 12th Grade; Baseball in 9th Grade; Basketball 9th – 12th Grade Lettering 12th Grade and Track 10th and 11th Grade Lettering in 11th Grade. Harrison is the son of Mark and Paula Hough.

Ashley Lauck

Lauck is the daughter of Charlie and Terresa Lauck and plans on attending Colorado State University and major in Biomedical Science. Her accomplishments include: National Honor Society, Alpha Honor Roll, FBLA Secretary, Gifted and Talented, Freshman Connection, Academic All-State in Volleyball, Vice President of her junior class, Rotary Student of the month, Morgan Community College President’s List, Accepted into CSU’s Honors Program, UNC Math Contest Final Round Contestant, FBLA Outstanding Member Award, third Place NJC Math and Science Competition, Homecoming Court Candidate, All Conference Track, FFA Greenhand Degree, Mustang Pride Award, Third Place District FBLA Cyber Security Test and Mustang Scholars. Community services include: Vacation Bible School Teacher for six years at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, volunteer at Humane Society and Veterinary Clinic, lead a presentation at local schools on anti-bullying, coach 5-7 year olds in track, helped coordinate FBLA Pedal the Plains activities, helped run a yearly carnival at a local elementary school, deliver fruit baskets to the elderly, reading to struggling elementary students, ran a volleyball camp for girls 3rd-8th grade, assisted in leading a local Girl Scout Troop, head of Operation Christmas Child at Church as well as helping direct Christmas play, volunteered to help run a local triathlon, helped with dinner to benefit a family who lost their home in a fire, helped fix a house for an elderly member of the community, play board games with Valley View nursing home residents, assistant coach a recreational volleyball team, gave money and time to benefit low-income residents in need and helped deliver Christmas gifts to elementary children.

Javier Perez Rodriguez

Perez Rodriguez plans on attending UNC Greeley and major in Software Engineering. Perez Rodriguez was born in Cuauhtémoc, Chihuahua, Mexico and moved to Fort Morgan with his family when he was sixteen. He started school as an English Language Learner, speaking no English. Determined to learn English he stayed one hour after school each day with a teacher to improve his English. Perez Rodriguez is a Lions Student of the Month and also volunteers in the FMHS Counseling Department helping as a Spanish Translator and Tour Guide for new students. He also provides ESL academic support. Perez Rodriguez holds a LULAC nomination and is also a member of the Honor Roll. He is the son of Cesar Olivas and Josefina Rodriguez.

Lauren Staley

Staleywill attend Colorado State University majoring in psychology. Staley has been very active in sports earning an All-Conference Honorable Mention for softball and basketball her sophomore year, then All-Conference her junior and senior year. She was nominated to participate in the All-State game for softball and basketball her senior year. Also during her senior year she received Academic All-State for softball and basketball, as well as team captain for soccer. Staley has lettered in all three sports her entire high school career. In addition, she plays softball in the fall for Brush High School, basketball in the winter and soccer and track in the spring. Staley has made honor roll every semester of high school. She is the daughter of John and Brittany Staley.

Melissa Tolson

Tolson plans to attend Colorado State University with a major in Hospitality Management and Event Planning. Her academic accomplishments include: Mustang Scholars, Mustang Pride Award, National Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars, Honor Roll, and October Rotary Student of the Month. Tolson was also Chamber of Commerce Snow Queen in 2014. She has been a member of FBLA all four years of high school serving the following roles: FBLA Vice President and President, three time state qualifier and one time national qualifier. As a member of the tennis team all four years of high school she made All Conference 10th and12th grade, All Conference Honorable Mention 11th grade, Academic All-State First Team 11th and 12th grade, Conference Champions 10th and 11th grade and was a Varsity Lettermen 10th – 12th grade. Tolson was a Freshman Connection Leader 11th-12th grade. She played in the Symphonic Orchestra all four years of high school and Musical Pit 9th, 10th and 12th grade. Tolson’s community services are varied: Peru and Jamaica Mission Trips, member of IEC Youth Group, Milk and Cookies coordinator, Pedal on the Plains co-coordinator, house clean-up, FM Outreach to Underprivileged Families-Christmas and volunteer at Hillcrest. She is the daughter of Bob and Debra Tolson.

Kinsey Windsheimer

Windsheimer plans on attending Morgan Community College with an emphasis on Elementary Education. Her academic career includes: Alpha Honor Roll, Top 10% of class, Academic All State – Basketball, CHSAA Academic Team Champions, National Honor Society, Renaissance Student of the Month, Mustang Scholars and CSU Talent Search. Windsheimer played Volleyball, and lists membership in Spirit Club, Future Business Leaders of American (FBLA), Freshman Connection and Entrepreneurship. She participated in volleyball and the science fair while in 9th grade. She has been very active in community activities including: Volunteered making cabbage pockets with the DOES, helped with Trinity Little Lambs classroom setup, packed and delivered fruit with National Honor Society, boxed and delivered necessities for Hillcrest residents, kept the score and scorebook at a little kids basketball tournament, with National Honor Society she played games with Valley View residents and helped move newspapers from the Fort Morgan Times to the Library/Museum. Windsheimer is the daughter of Craig and Gail Windsheimer.

Soraya Yanez

Yanez is the daughter of Mario and Marlena Yanez. She plans to major in Human Performance at Colorado Mountain College, Steamboat Campus. She participated in Cross-Country her freshmen and sophomore years and was a State Qualifier. She also received Honorable Mention her sophomore year. She ran track her junior year, also receiving Honorable Mention, and was named All American Academic by maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA all four years. A December, 2014 Wolf Student of the Month, and is on the Honor Roll. Yanez has participated in Cross Country, Track and Field all four years of high school, and Basketball in 9th and 10th grade. She has been a member of FBLA all four years of high school and Student Government as a senior. Yanez participated in the Blessings in a Backpack Program, as well as the Milk and Cookies and Giving Free programs. Yanez has been a volunteer at Hillcrest for the last four years.

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