DeGregori takes home prestigious award and $1000 towards his college education.
Photo by Rebecca Holt
On April 29, 2010, Junior Luke DeGregori was summoned to the counselors’ office and informed that he had received a very prestigious award. “It’s an Outstanding Junior award presented by Colorado University at Boulder,” said DeGregori.
Attending CU Boulder has been on DeGregori’s to-do list for years, so receiving this award was very handy for him. “CU Boulder has been my college of choice since about 6th grade,” said DeGregori. “With tuition being raised every year, I’m glad I could get a head start on scholarships and other college funding before my senior year.”
Throughout DPS, one Junior is chosen from each school to receive the award.
“The award is the University of Colorado at Boulder Outstanding Junior Award, which recognizes the top juniors in the state of Colorado. Recipients are awarded a $1,000 scholarship to attend CU-Boulder. They are also invited to a recognition ceremony at CU in the summer with the other Outstanding Juniors and their families,” said TJ Counselor Dawn Catalano, who recommended DeGregori for the award.
DeGregori was eligible for the award without even knowing it. “I wasn’t aware the award even existed until it was given to me,” he laughed. “The candidates have to be set on going to CU Boulder to be eligible for the award, and I’ve been set on going to the school for a while.”
One student is nominated by the counseling department of each school in January annually, and it was a unanimous decision that the TJ nominee for the 2009-2010 school year should be DeGregori. “One day several months ago, I was called down to the office again and asked what college I plan on attending. I told my counselor CU Boulder, and then I was sent on my way,” laughed DeGregori. “I had no idea I was really being questioned for a potential scholarship.”
This year, CU received about 250 nominations from across the state, and from there CU decides who the winners will be. DeGregori is extremely grateful that he was one of the recipients. “I’m really glad I was nominated and won this award. I’m very humble to have received it, and especially so out of the blue. It was a very nice surprise.”
DeGregori plans on attending CU Boulder in the fall of 2011. “I’m thinking of applying for a few music scholarships, and there are a few others that I’ve already had my eye on,” he said.
Many adults at TJ agree that Luke is a top student in the school. “Luke is not only an Outstanding Junior academically, but he is creative, a talented musician, and a super nice person. He is a student we are excited to honor for his achievements!” said Catalano.
With nine years of violin under his belt, musical scholarships are also a potential money source for his college education. As a junior who has already received awards and college money, it’s safe to say that DeGregori has a lot to look forward to and an extremely bright future ahead of him.
