“The Joe V. Aldaz Sr. Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $500 is awarded to a Raton High School Senior Graduate who has earned a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 and enrolls as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited higher education institution in the fall directly after high school graduation. Since 2017, the Aldaz Family has been awarded the scholarship to the following Raton High School graduates, Sofia Maddaleni, Brianna Marquez, and Donavin Mendez.
A Joe V. Aldaz Sr. Scholar is a student who demonstrates the desire and ability to overcome barriers and to achieve their goals. A Joe V. Aldaz Sr. Scholar is evaluated on their determination to succeed, future goals and plans to achieve them, the ability to communicate the hardships they have overcome or currently face, and the self-motivation in completing challenging coursework.
Joe V. Aldaz Sr. passed away on July 29th, 2016. He was a career educator and high school and junior high coach having educated the youth of New Mexico for 37 years and for 28 years, the youth of Raton School District. Mr. Aldaz was a staunch advocate for students pursuing a college or vocational degree. The Aldaz Family believes it was fitting to continue Joe V. Aldaz Sr.’s legacy in education and award a scholarship on his behalf to a deserving graduate of Raton High School. The 2020 Joe V. Aldaz Sr. Memorial Scholarship recipient is Nevaeh Ortiz who will continue your education at the University of New Mexico and pursue her degree to become a pharmacist.”
