Katheryn (Kay) Bolles was inspired by the stories of the great students she got to know during her 20 years of working with Metro State. So much so that she has established a significant scholarship fund at the College.

A recent gift of $50,000 from Bolles will establish the Kay Bolles Endowed Scholarship Fund. According to Lora Hansen, manager of private scholarships and donor relations, a portion of the gift will be disbursed in scholarships beginning with the 2008-09 academic year and the remainder will establish the endowment for the scholarship fund.

In addition, Bolles has named Metro State as a primary beneficiary of her will. Any funds received from this bequest will go toward the scholarship endowment.

The Bolles scholarships will support students enrolled in the Department of Engineering Technology. Students receiving the scholarship must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a Colorado native, or child of Colorado parent(s) in the U.S. Armed Forces;
2. Have a grade-point average of at least 3.25;
3. Work at least 15 hours per week;
4. Be registered at Metro State for 12 or more credit hours while receiving the scholarship;
5. Have a declared major in civil, electrical or mechanical engineering technology;
6. Be a junior or senior.

In a 1991 letter in which she first mentioned the bequest to the College, Bolles wrote:

“It is the people who did and/or do work there (at Metro State) that showed they CARE about Metro State, about what has been and become of Metro State… This is in addition to the mainstream of students in the School of Engineering Technology where I worked and watched them work so very hard… I miss you but know that in years to come Metropolitan State College will still graduate some very wonderful students after I am long gone. We must all help our students to progress.”

Now in her 80s and living in Parachute, Colo., Bolles retired from Metro State in January of 1986.