Miguel Mendez Social Justice Memorial Fund

Miguel was a truly remarkable person. Many qualities could describe him -- smart, humorous, outgoing – but more than anything, he was selfless. As a first-generation Colorado college graduate who majored in social justice, he had an instinctive drive to reshape our world into a more equitable and accessible place for others. Miguel drew upon the love and support he felt from his family and friends to champion a culture of kindness within his Colorado community. He felt it was his life’s duty to ensure that all people, no matter their background, would be treated with respect, dignity, and compassion. For this, and his other many leadership abilities he used for good in the world, he is an invaluable inspiration to us all. Miguel was taken from us to soon in July 2022 by a water accident and to honor his memory we are creating this fund to support future students that uphold Miguel’s dedication to equity, diversity, and human rights for all.

This fundraiser will support first-gen students who are pursuing degrees in social justice. We are starting this fund with the initial seed money and will then match the first $1500 in donations. The final amount will be divided into three awards and distributed Spring 2023, 2024, and 2025. Each year, the applicant who best exemplifies Miguel’s spirit of positive change will be selected to receive that year’s scholarship.