The Gilpin County Education Foundation hosted its annual Scholarship Dinner Fund-raiser in person this year on Saturday, April 23, 2022, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ameristar Casino and Hotel. The event raised $10,000 for scholarships.

Foundation Board President Sarah Swanson said she wanted to reach out to say a huge thank you to everyone “for helping us make our scholarship dinner such a success….Thanks to our sponsors, our wonderful speakers, and everyone who bought tickets and made donations last night. After all expenses, you all helped us raise $10,000 for our scholarship fund.

“I am so thrilled we will have so much money to distribute this year to our very deserving graduating class.”

The Foundation’s intention is to give all of this money away this year in scholarships. They are accepting applications until 11:59 p.m. on April 29 from Gilpin High School graduates and also any graduating senior who lives in Gilpin County. The application is online and can be accessed here: https:// gilpineducationfoundation.org/ scholarship-fund/

The Scholarship Dinner began at 6 p.m. with cocktails and a Bingo game discovering items about those in attendance. Attendees received tickets to enter into a raffle, and if they completed the Bingo game, they received additional raffle tickets.

For the three-course dinner, the menu included rolls and butter, mixed salad, herb roasted half chicken, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, baby carrots, Madeira chicken jus, and cheesecake with fruit.

After dinner, Gilpin graduate Josh Trujillo spoke about his time at the School of Mines and the exciting things happening in his life recently. Josh Trujillo is a 2018 Gilpin graduate and scholarship recipient. Since graduating from Gilpin County High School, Trujillo has been pursuing his degree in Aerospace and Defense and Additive Manufacturing. He will graduate this year. He was recently in national news for saving a dog’s life after it was buried in an avalanche.

Trujillo was involved in sports activities and worked really hard while at the Gilpin school. He had great teachers, he said, like Heather Newman, and would not have been able to afford college without the scholarship he received.

He chose mechanical engineering because he found out that is what he is good at. He would like to put a lot of effort in sending craft to the moon and Mars.

Following the former student’s presentation, Swanson and staff announced the winners of the raffle. Ameristar Hotel and Casino had donated the wine and discounted the meal.

Swanson thanked everyone who has donated. She has lived in Gilpin County for 11 years and started with the Foundation two years ago. Since then, they have raised $61,000 for scholarships. Every dollar they have raised has gone to 65 scholarships.

Keynote speaker for the evening was Peter Droege, a native Gilpinite who is excited to share his stories with everyone. He is now with the Bill Daniels Foundation that helps students with grants for all colleges. He thanked the Gilpin County Education Foundation.

Droege has been a newspaper reporter in Los Angeles, where he interviewed the Dalai Lama and several presidents. He has been the editor of local publications including the Colorado Gambler and has been involved as the gambling industry developed.

Now he is with the Daniels Fund. He was working for a friend of Bill Daniels, and after Daniels died, it was difficult to develop a brand, so Peter was hired to help do branding and to fulfill donor intent.

He said Bill Daniels was the kindest and most generous person. He grew up in the Great Depression, and when he first saw television, he thought TV was a big deal but it didn’t reach rural communities.

When he died, Daniels left his estate to help people in need. The Fund provides four-year scholarships including transportation and books. Ashley Martin, Gilpin County Chief Deputy to the Clerk and Recorder, received a Daniels Fund scholarship.

The Fund awards 230 scholarships every year; there are now 1,000 students in college.

Droege also is on the Century City Main Street Commission and the Belvidere Foundation. On June 5, he will again be a Gilpin County resident as he moves back to the County.

After the presentation, Swanson said the next event for the Foundation will be the Evergreen Golf Tournament. Details will be forthcoming.