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COSI Press Releases

Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative awards more than $4.9 million in matching scholarships

DENVER (May 24, 2022)   The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative board approved 66 proposals that provide $4,971,190 in scholarships for Colorado students

Read about the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative awards...


Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 16 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER (Dec. 6, 2021) — The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved 16 proposals that will provide more than $2.5 million in scholarships for Colorado students.

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative awards $15 million for support services aimed at workers displaced by COVID-19

DENVER (Sept. 27, 2021) — The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI), a program within the Colorado Department of Higher Education, has awarded $15 million to 21 providers across the state for a program aimed at getting Coloradans back to work after the pandemic. The Back to Work Grant requires providers to prioritize workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and provide participants with wraparound and financial support to access and complete their credential or degree within the grant term.

Read about the 2021 awards...


Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 40 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER, CO May 26, 2021 - The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved 40 proposals that will provide more than $3 million in scholarships for Colorado students.

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 15 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER, CO, April 13, 2021 - The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved 15 proposals that will provide more than $1.1 million in scholarships for Colorado students.

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative and One Million Degrees launch “Finish What You Started”

DENVER, CO, April 6, 2021 - The Colorado Department of Higher Education’s (CDHE) Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) and One Million Degrees (OMD) today announced the launch of “Finish What You Started,” a two-year pilot program providing wraparound support services for low-income Adams County, Colorado adults, aged 25+, to obtain college credentials or degrees.

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Twelve Colorado colleges and universities receive $1 million in emergency aid to students 

DENVER, Oct. 21, 2020:  Governor Jared Polis and the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) awarded $1 million of the $44 million Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund to 12 public institutions of higher education. 

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative announces sixth year of matching scholarships grant program funding

DENVER, CO – August 12, 2020: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) continues to invest in postsecondary scholarships for students. The program announced today the availability of $7.5 million for the 2020-2021 round of matching student scholarship grants. 

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative releases $1.5 million for support services aimed at  workers displaced by COVID-19 

DENVER – May 5, 2020:  Today, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) announced the availability of up to $750,000 annually in grants to help workers displaced by COVID-19 enroll in certification and degree programs that align with Colorado Top Jobs, identified in the Talent Pipeline Report, so they can complete their credential within the next two years.   

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves six new local scholarship proposals 


DENVER, March 31, 2020: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship (COSI) Initiative board approved six proposals that will provide more than $1.5 million in scholarships for Colorado students. 

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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves more than $2.9 million in matching scholarship funds.

DENVER – Dec. 17, 2019:  In a record-breaking grant cycle, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved nearly $3 million in proposals that will generate more than$5.9 million in scholarship funds for about 2,650 students.
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves more than $7.5 million in matching scholarship grant funds

DENVER – June 14, 2019:  Approving $7.5 million in grant awards, the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board will allocate a total of $15 million in new scholarship funds for the 2018-2019 cycle, supporting more than 5,150 students across the state. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves five new local scholarship proposals

DENVER – Jan. 2, 2019:  The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative board approved five proposals that will provide more than $1.6 million in scholarships for Colorado students. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative announces $7.5 million available in its current round of matching scholarships grant program

DENVER, Oct. 15, 2018 – The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) announced today the availability of $7.5 million for the 2018-2019 round of matching student scholarship grants. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative receives $3.5 million in additional state funding

DENVER – June 5, 2018: This session, the Colorado legislature increased the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s (COSI) annual appropriation by $2 million and granted $1.5 million in additional one-time funding, bringing its total budget to $8.5 million for the next fiscal year. 
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Governor and General Assembly provide more than $105 million in new funding to support state’s talent development

DENVER – May 10, 2018: Governor John Hickenlooper and the Colorado Legislature made a significant investment in higher education in Colorado by increasing funding by more than $105 million. These dollars are targeted to make earning a credential more affordable for students and support the state’s goal of 66 percent attainment by 2025. 
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Morgan Community College Foundation named 2018 Quarterly Forum scholarship recipient

DENVER – May 1, 2018: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) named Morgan Community College (MCC) Foundation its 2018 Quarterly Forum (QF) Scholarship Recipient last Wednesday, awarding $150,000 in scholarships for their 2Gen Mentor-Scholarship program. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 29 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER, May 30, 2017 – The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (COSI) board approved 29 local scholarship proposals worth $2.5 million to counties, institutions of higher education and workforce development organizations. One-to-one matches of community and state funds will grow the tuition support for student scholarships to a total of $5 million.  
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Colorado Mesa University Foundation named 2017 Quarterly Forum Scholarship Recipient. The $150,000 award will fund student scholarships at Western Colorado Community College

DENVER – March 27, 2017: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative named the Colorado Mesa University Foundation its 2017 Quarterly Forum Scholarship Recipient today, awarding $150,000 in scholarships for Western Colorado Community College students. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 12 new local scholarship proposals; $7 million in additional funds available for 2017-2018 

DENVER, March 28, 2017 – The Colorado Scholarship Initiative board approved twelve local scholarship
proposals that will grow into a total of $3.9 million and announced another $7 million in funds for the 2017-2018 grant cycle. 
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Scholarship Initiative announces funding for 19 grant recipients to assist Colorado students 

DENVER, Dec. 7, 2016 – The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (Scholarship Initiative) has awarded 19 community partners approximately $3.2 million to continue programs the Scholarship Initiative began supporting in 2014. The 18-month grants will provide continued support for programs that help prepare students for postsecondary education and support them through completion. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 10 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER, Nov. 28, 2016 – The Colorado Scholarship Initiative board approved 10 local scholarship proposals, which will grow into $4.2 million in scholarships for Colorado students. 
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Colorado Department of Higher Education to visit Red Rocks Community College for scholarship award presentation

DENVER – October 20, 2016:  Colorado Department of Higher Education will visit Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) for a check presentation on behalf of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s award of more than $79,000 to Red Rocks Community College Foundation on behalf of Clear Creek, Gilpin, and Park Counties, and Red Rocks Community College, and more than $500,000 to Jeffco Public Schools Foundation on behalf of Jefferson County. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative awards $900,000 to three collective impact initiative grantees

DENVER – Sept. 8, 2016:  The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative will award three grantees more than $900,000 in Collective Impact Initiative Grants that provide resources for community groups to work together to reduce the attainment gap. A kickoff event will be held Thursday, Sept.  15 in Salida. Lumina Foundation joined the Scholarship Initiative in this effort, committing an additional $200,000 for technical assistance. 
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Lt. Gov. Lynne to visit Morgan Community College for scholarship award presentation

DENVER – August 22, 2016: Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne will visit Morgan Community College (MCC) for a check presentation on behalf of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s award of more than $98,000 to Morgan Community College Foundation. 
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Lt. Gov. Lynne to visit Western State Colorado University for scholarship award presentation

DENVER – August 16, 2016: Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne will visit Western State Colorado University (WSCU) for a check presentation on behalf of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s award of more than $53,000 to Western State Colorado Foundation. 
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Lt. Gov. Lynne to visit Colorado Mountain College for scholarship award presentation

DENVER – August 9, 2016: Lt. Gov. Donna Lynne will visit Colorado Mountain College (CMC) in Breckenridge for a check presentation on behalf of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative’s award of more than $118,000 to Colorado Mountain College Foundation on behalf of Chafee, Eagle, Jackson, Lake, Routt, and Summit counties and CMC. 
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Scholarship Initiative announces 12 new grant recipients to assist Colorado students

DENVER – June 23, 2016: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (Scholarship Initiative) announces the addition of 12 new organizations as Community Partner Programs. The two-year grants provide funding for programs that will help prepare students for postsecondary education, as well as support them through completion. Partners will receive awards ranging from $50,000 - $75,000 annually for two years. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 24 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER – May 31, 2016: The Colorado Scholarship Initiative board recently approved 24 local scholarship proposals which could grow into $4.6 million in scholarships for Colorado students. 
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Scholarship Initiative and Quarterly Forum partner up again, providing $150,000 in scholarships

DENVER – April 28, 2016: The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (Scholarship Initiative) and Quarterly Forum (QF) announced a plan to partner again, now providing scholarships to Lamar Community College. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 9 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER – March 30, 2015:  The Colorado Scholarship Initiative board approved 9 local scholarship proposals last week, which will grow into $2.2 million in scholarships for Colorado students.   
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Colo. Department of Higher Education announces finalists for new grant program to address the attainment gap
Lumina Foundation pledges $200,000 to boost program aimed at closing Colorado’s postsecondary attainment gap 

DENVER – March 29, 2016: Earlier this month, the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative (Scholarship Initiative) announced finalists for the newly formed Collective Impact Initiative Grant program. On Friday, the finalists convened for a kickoff event.  
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Deadline approaching on Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative – New Partner Program Grants

DENVER - March 7, 2016: The deadline for state, nonprofit, or community organizations to apply for the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative – New Partner Program Grants is March 18, 2016. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves 9 new local scholarship proposals

DENVER – January 26, 2015: The Colorado Scholarship Initiative board approved 9 local scholarship proposals earlier this month, which will grow into $3.8 million in scholarships for Colorado students. 
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Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative approves $1.3 million in scholarships, which will be matched 1:1

DENVER – December 1, 2015: The Colorado Scholarship Initiative board approved seven local scholarship proposals, which will grow into $2.6 million in scholarships for Colorado students. 
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Matching grants now available for local scholarship programs

DENVER, September 18, 2015 - The Colorado Department of Higher Education is now accepting grant applications for the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative. Through the Scholarship Initiative, every county and public school of higher education has access to matching funds for scholarships. The amount allocated to each county or school is determined by the free and reduced lunch population.   
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State scholarship initiative gets OK to match local funds

DENVER - August 20, 2015 - The Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative Board adopted rules yesterday to define how the state will partner with colleges, local municipalities, and workforce development programs to provide postsecondary scholarships.  This move makes new matching funds available to local groups that want to increase their capacity to help students with tuition and college completion.

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Gov. Hickenlooper announces first project of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative

DENVER — Thursday, May 5, 2015 —  Gov. John Hickenlooper announced the first scholarship project of the Colorado Opportunity Scholarship Initiative, a statewide initiative to create a network of student support and scholarship programs throughout the state. 
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Gov. Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Garcia announce award of $3.4 million in grants to assist Colorado students

DENVER — Thursday, Dec. 18, 2014 — Gov. John Hickenlooper and Lt. Gov. Joe Garcia today announced the award of $3.4 million in grant funds aimed at supporting Colorado students – especially those from low-income and/or underrepresented backgrounds – on the path to and through college and into the workforce. 
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Gov. Hickenlooper announces $3.4 million in grants to help students graduate with less debt; connect with jobs

DENVER – Thursday, Oct. 9, 2014 – Governor John Hickenlooper announced today the availability of $3.4 million in grants aimed at expanding and improving the network of programs focused on supporting students as they prepare for and pursue higher education. 
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