Town of Vail Scholarship Program

This  program is for Vail seniors who have achieved academic excellence and leadership success and commitment to the Vail community.

The scholarship is to help fund students who are pursuing their next chapter in life at either a college, university, or technical school.

Two scholarships are awarded in the amount of $5000 to support the financial requirements during the upcoming freshman year.

Scholarship for Criteria for the Town of Vail:

• The student must be either a Vail resident with a street address in the town boundary or a child of a parent/s who works full time within the town boundary.
• The student must be currently enrolled in a public or private school or may be educated at home within Eagle County.
• The student must attend a college, university or technical school as a freshman in 2025.
• Scholarships are awarded without consideration or race, color, national origin, religion or sex.
• Scholarship will be awarded to two students for one year.
• Applications must be received by May 8, 2026 by noon.

Submission Requirement Guidelines:

 Please submit the following items as part of the application to Seniorscholarshipawards@vail.gov:

1) Letter of introduction and an important highlight about the student (1 page)

2) Resume which reflects academic, employment and community or civic highlights as well as a listing of any achievements or accolades the student has received (1 page)

3) The student is asked to submit an essay (500 words) that answers the following question:

  How can the Town of Vail help to create more “community connections” with younger residents, including students and employees?

4) Student Photo, student contact information, including mailing address, street address, email and cell number.

 5) Proof of parent employment within the Town of Vail (if student doesn’t reside in the Town of Vail).

6) Name of college the student will be attending and mailing address.

7) The date the funds will be needed by the college and the student’s college ID number.

Due Date for Applications:

 Applications should be submitted to the Vail Town Clerk no later than noon on Friday, May 8, 2026, contact info below. The committee will meet to make its selection by its deadline of May 15, 2026.

 Scholarship winners will be announced at the May 19th, 2026 Town Council evening meeting.

 If you should have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact:  Seniorscholarshipawards@vail.gov.

Colorado Grand Scholarship Program

The Town of Vail is eligible to receive one $15,000 scholarship to award one local high school graduate as part of the Colorado Grand Scholarship Program.

This is the fourteenth year the town has been eligible to participate in this wonderful program because Vail continues to serve as a “home base” for the Colorado Grand. This program is sponsored by the Colorado Grand and supported by the Colorado State Patrol.

Scholarship Criteria for the Colorado Grand: 

• The student must reside in the town or county which the Colorado Grand visits for lunch.
• He or she may be enrolled in a public or private school or may be educated at home.
• The student must attend a Colorado or Wyoming college, trade school or university as a freshman in 2026.
• Scholarships are awarded without consideration or race, color, national origin, religion or sex.
• Scholarship will be awarded to one student for one year.
• Applications must be received by April 30, 2026 by noon.

Submission Requirement Guidelines

Please submit the following items as part of the application to Seniorscholarshipawards@vail.gov:  

 1) Letter of introduction and an important highlight about the student (1 page)

2) Resume which reflects academic, employment and community or civic highlights as well as a listing of any achievements or accolades the student has received (1 page)

 3) The student is asked to submit an essay (500 words) that answers the following question: 

Select one of the town’s focus areas, community, economy, or experience, and describe how it has had an impact on the student’s life growing up in the Vail Valley?

4) Student Photo, student contact information, including mailing address, street address, email and cell number. 

5) Name of college the student will be attending (Colorado and Wyoming only) and mailing address.

6) The date the funds will be needed by the college and the student’s college ID number.

 Scholarship winners will be announced at the May 19th, 2026 Town Council evening meeting.

 If you should have any questions or need additional information, please do not hesitate to contact:  Seniorscholarshipawards@vail.gov. 

The Mauri Nottingham Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Scholarship:

This scholarship program honors the contributions of Mauri Nottingham to the Vail community.

The program is intended to provide recognition and financial support to qualified local residents and students interested in pursuing education and careers in the field of environmental sustainability. This scholarship will be awarded to cover the cost of tuition and supplies up to $1,000.

 Scholarship Criteria for the Nottingham Scholarship:

• Must be a high school student, local resident, or employed within the Town of Vail who will be enrolled in sustainability or other related environmental education courses full-time or part-time in 2026.
• Preference will be given to those completing coursework at Colorado Mountain College. 
• Persons taking courses through other educational institutions may also apply.

• Applications must be received by May 8, 2026 by noon.

Click here for application: The Mauri Nottingham Excellence in Environmental Sustainability Scholarship

Scholarship winners will be announced at the May 19th, 2026 Town Council evening meeting.

If you should have any questions or need additional information, please contact Beth Markham, Environmental Sustainability Manager at bmarkham@vail.gov or 970-479-2333.