GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is excited to present a scholarship opportunity to high school students of Mesa County on behalf of the County Sheriff’s of Colorado, Inc. (CSOC). The CSOC will award a $500 scholarship to a deserving Mesa County student in May 2026. Applications must be submitted by February 27, 2026. Applications are available online at www.coloradosheriffs.org/scholarship, or at the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office located at 215 Rice Street, Grand Junction.

The CSOC established the scholarship program in 1978. Since then, this effort has continued as a meaningful expression of the sheriffs’ confidence in and respect for education and training. The organization considers this an investment in the future and believes that the scholarship provides deserving students with an opportunity to make a positive contribution to society.

This year’s scholarship is especially meaningful as Sheriff Todd Rowell was recently elected president of the County Sheriff’s of Colorado, Inc. (CSOC). He is proud to continue the tradition of extending scholarships to deserving students across Colorado and, especially, Mesa County. This year, more than 30 scholarships will be distributed throughout the state, including to a student in Mesa County.

Applications from Mesa County students will be reviewed by a committee made up of Sheriff’s Office personnel and community members. The selection will be made on the basis of criteria established by CSOC, which includes leadership, merit, character, involvement and career purpose.

Students looking to apply must be a Mesa County resident enrolled in, or applying to, a vocational training program or institution of higher learning in the State of Colorado as a full- or part-time student. There are no restrictions as to the course of study or training which may be pursued.

For more information, contact your local high school, college, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office or County Sheriffs of Colorado, or visit the CSOC Scholarship website at www.coloradosheriffs.org/scholarship.