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Beginning this year, the ������ý���� will become the 10th institution in the state to offer the prestigious Reisher Scholars Program through The Denver Foundation. With this milestone, CU ������ý���� joins one of the largest scholarship programs in Colorado, serving a projected 914 students statewide by the fall of 2026.

CU ������ý���� will offer $4.2 million in scholarships through a new partnership with The Denver Foundation and the Reisher Family Foundation. This transformative program at CU ������ý���� will connect transfer and continuing students to scholarships and wellness resources to help them complete their degrees.

“We are deeply grateful for the Reisher Scholars Program and its generous support,” said Chancellor Justin Schwartz. “This investment directly addresses students’ real challenges to help them stay on track, graduate and thrive. At CU ������ý����, we believe that access to education should lead to degree completion. The Reisher Scholars Program strengthens our commitment to student success and ensures that more Buffs can finish college ready to achieve their next steps.”

Expanding access to education

Many scholarships help students gain access to college through funding during their first year. While vital, students also need ongoing support throughout their educational experience. The Reisher Scholars Program specifically targets students after their first year by offering financial support for students to complete their undergraduate degrees.

The program focuses on highly motivated students with financial need who are likely to contribute positively to society as demonstrated by their community service, leadership activities, work experiences and other distinctive accomplishments.

Colorado residents who attend or plan to attend CU ������ý���� may apply for the program as a rising sophomore or transfer student from a community college. Each selected student may qualify for up to $22,000 per year to cover their cost of attendance. Recipients can also access free mental health support through Talkspace, an online therapy provider.

“Receiving this scholarship will be truly transformational. It will allow some of our hardest-working students to complete their degrees when financial barriers might otherwise have forced them to step away,” said Jennifer Fisher, director of the Office of Scholarship Services. “The Reisher Scholarship provides more than just financial support. It fosters a community of driven individuals dedicated to building a better future for themselves and their communities, both during their time in school and as engaged alumni.”

A legacy of generosity

Roger and Margaret Reisher started the Reisher Scholars program in 2001 because they credited their education for their success and wanted to expand that opportunity to others. Roger graduated from CU ������ý���� with an accounting degree in 1950, and Roger and Margaret Reisher were the first in their families to earn college degrees. The Reisher Scholars Program at The Denver Foundation is now one of the largest scholarship programs in Colorado. In 2025-2026, the Reisher Scholars Program is on track to give nearly $10 million in scholarships to 712 undergraduate students.

The Reisher family established the program at in 2001. This year marks The Denver Foundation’s 100th anniversary, with Nov. 30, 2025, recently named “The Denver Foundation Centennial Celebration Day.” Adding CU ������ý���� as a partner university of the Reisher Scholars Program demonstrates the Reisher family’s and The Denver Foundation’s longstanding commitment to higher education.

“With the addition of CU ������ý���� to the Reisher Scholars Program as our 10th partner institution, we are continuing to expand our reach to Colorado students and help them complete their degree,” said Sharon Harper, senior director of scholarships for The Denver Foundation. “Our hope is that more Colorado students see themselves as belonging in the higher education landscape, and this partnership with CU ������ý���� allows the Reisher Scholars Program to reach even more students engaged in a wide variety of educational pursuits, while making college accessible and achievable for Colorado learners.”

Building the first cohort of CU ������ý���� Reisher Scholars

The program will launch at CU ������ý���� this fall with 40 students in the first cohort, with a plan to grow to 80 students in the second year and 100 in the third. Starting in the fourth year, the Reisher Scholars Program will provide $1.8 million in annual contributions to sustain the program.

To be considered for the scholarship, interested students can apply by March 15 for rising sophomores and June 15 for transfer students.

Through initiatives like the Reisher Scholars Program, scholarship support makes a college education accessible to high-achieving students with financial need — helping Colorado’s best and brightest students reach their full potential.