Scholarship Awardees

Apply for next year’s MM Memorial Scholarship through the NMAA foundation.

Information:

Applications open— October 18th (Must be submitted online via the Foundation page of the NMAA foundation website).

 Application deadline—February 1st of the following year

The NMAA foundation has distributed approximately $375,000 to nearly 300 students since 2007. Students from just over 100 NMAA member schools have received scholarships, with the NMAA having a total of 160 high schools.

2023 MM Scholarship Awardees

It is an honor to introduce the 2023 MM Memorial Scholarship Awardees, D’Shawn Vinyard and Savannah Ames. D’Shawn and Savannah have been recognized for their hard work and desire to improve. They have shown outstanding sportsmanship and represent the state of New Mexico in a way that would have made Coach Mike proud!

D’Shawn Vinyard from Magdalena High School graduating with a 3.93 GPA and is a multi-sport athlete. D’Shawn led his basketball team to the 1A State Championship, as well as a Team Track and Field Championship in 2022. D’Shawn ran the 200 meters and the 400 meters in addition to high jumping in the 2022 season. At the 2023 State track meet D’Shawn won the High Jump (6’ 0”) as well as the long jump (22’ 1”). He placed 2nd in the 400m (50.72) and 3rd in the 200m (23.82). D’Shawn is undecided on where he will be attending college.

Savannah Ames will graduate from La Cueva high school with a 3.75 GPA. She is both a track and Cross Country athlete. Savannah helped her team to 2nd place in the 4X800 relay in 2023. Savannah is a product of the Cougar Track Club. CTC was indirectly influenced by Mike Mittlestaedt as he was a mentor to CTC coaches.  Savannah is described by her coaches as a very hard working, talented athlete. She is involved in ROTC, and several civic activities. She finished 5th in the 2023 State High School 5A 800 meter in 2:27 helping La Cueva win the 2023 NM State Team Championship. Savannah will attend the University of Northern Colorado next year.

2022 MM Scholarship Awardees

It is an honor to introduce the 2022 MM Memorial Scholarship Awardees. Josette Gurule and Gilbert Valdez. Josette and Gilbert have been recognized for their hard work and desire to improve. They have shown outstanding sportsmanship and represent the state of New Mexico in a way that would have made Coach Mike proud!

Josette Gurule, a senior at Academy of Technology & the Classics, carries a 4.23 GPA. In 2021, Gurule was the Class A-2A Girls’ Individual Champion at the state cross country meet, while also earning state championships in the 800-meter run and the 1,600-meter run at the state track & field championships. She has helped ATC capture two state cross country championships and one track & field championship during her time at ATC. At the 2022 State ClassA-2A track and field meet, Josette finished 1st in the 800m, 1600m and was 2nd in the 3200m. She will be attending Trinity College in San Antonio, Texas.

Gilbert Valdez is a senior cross country and track & field runner for Penasco High School. Valdez was the 2020 and 2021 Boys’ Individual State Champion in Class A-2A cross country. He also won both the 800-meter run and the 1,600-meter run in 2021 at the state track and field championships. He finished second in the 3,200-meter run in 2021, helping his team to an eighth-place finish in the team standings. At the 2022 State ClassA- 2A Boy’s meet, Gilbert won the 800m, 1500m and 3200m. Gilbert will be attending college at Eastern NM University in Portales, NM.

2021 MM Scholarship Awardees

It is an honor to introduce the 2021 MM Memorial Scholarship Awardees. Vanessa Dominguez and Juan Branch have been recognized for their hard work and desire to improve. They have shown outstanding sportsmanship and represent the state of New Mexico in a way that would have made Coach Mike proud!