I have always been interested in taking things apart and fixing things. Whenever I got to high school and had my first Automotive class, I figured out what I thought I might do in the future. It made me feel good to fix my own things. I applied to a technical/ vocational school, WyoTech, in Wyoming and plan on attending WyoTech next year, 2025. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. I need the knowledge to take something apart but also know exactly how it goes back together. My educational and career goals are to get as many technical certifications as I can in Welding, Diesel, High Performance Engines, Automotive, and Metal Fabrication. In the future, I would like to own my own shop and restore old cars, building them from the ground up. My dream is to restore an old Ford truck from the 1950s and I want to restore my Grandpa's Ford Fairlane. I also want to build a drag car and set records. I recently got my first car, a 1996 Ford Mustang, from a family friend who said the car hadn't run in eight years. He said that if I could get it running, then I could have it for free. The first thing I did was a compression test, and the engine came out looking good. After that, I disconnected the fuel fittings to clear the lines out with some air and gas. When I had the fuel lines disconnected, I tried cranking it to see the fuel come through, but it didn't so I got a new fuel pump and wired it up. When I first cranked it up it was misfiring, so I switched two wires and then it ran smooth. I had the car running in less than three weeks. This whole experience gave me a new understanding of myself, that I am good at mechanical work and that I accomplished what I set out to do, to get a free car by fixing it up and getting it running. I am applying for this scholarship because I could use the help for college. This scholarship could bring help for Technical College, and this would help me to achieve my career and life goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can. After WyoTech, I plan to make an impact in the future by joining the Coast Guard to serve my country. A career in the Diesel or Automotive Trade would empower my future by helping me to qualify for specialty jobs in the Coast Guard. Tech school is important to my future to help me gain knowledge and once you gain knowledge, no one can ever take it away from you. Thank you for considering this scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

I have always been interested in taking things apart and fixing things. When I got to high school and had my first Automotive Technology classes and Welding classes, I figured out what I thought I would do in the future. I enjoy mechanics and working with my hands, so I will be pursuing as many technical certifications in the Automotive industry as possible. I applied to my top choice technical/ trades college, WyoTech, and plan to start in 2025 as soon as I graduate from high school. This tech college teaches you a trade like Welding or Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. My educational and career goals are to get as many technical certifications as I can in Diesel Technology, Welding, Metal Fabrication, High Performance Engines, and Automotive Technology. My main goal is to attend WyoTech long-term and to work my way through all of their programs. In the future I would like to have my own shop and restore old cars. I am passionate about fabrication, building and creating, so I hope to one day build drag cars and set records. After WyoTech, I want to join the Coast Guard to serve my country. Having certifications in Diesel, Welding, and Automotive could help me to qualify for specialized jobs in the Coast Guard. I am both Native American and Caucasian. I am currently volunteering as a Sports Leadership Intern at the Wellness Program where I lead youth in physical activities designed to teach leadership skills like conflict management, decision making, self-awareness, and communication. I lead the kids in relay races, isometric stretches, ladders, hurdles, and fun games like kickball and baseball. I work with two different groups; the first group is the elementary school kids, and the second group is the mid-school and high school kids combined. We are trying to create a safe space for the kids to learn in and be active in. I hope that this has an impact on the kids in that they might one day want to become an Intern or a Mentor in this program for our community. I plan on giving back to my community in the future by continuing to stay involved with my culture through traditional activities and continuing to volunteer with the Wellness Program after school and in the summer. Thank you for considering this scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

My name is Gabe Montoya. I am from both Santa Ana Pueblo and Albuquerque. I am a Senior at Bernalillo High School, getting ready to finish my final semester before graduation. I am currently volunteering as a Sports Leadership and Education Intern after school at the Santa Ana Wellness Program. I lead Native youth in physical activities to help us learn leadership skills through sports and physical activity. We learn things like conflict management, decision making, self-awareness, and communication. I volunteer on Mondays and Wednesdays after school leading the kids in relay races, isometric stretches, ladders, hurdles, and fun games like kickball and baseball. I work with two different groups; the first group is the elementary school kids, and the second group is the mid-school and high school kids combined. We are trying to help create a safe space for the kids to learn in and be active in. The reason that I started volunteering with this Internship is that I was asked to by a Mentor who I have known since I was in elementary school. He is a good role model and someone that I look up to, so I wanted to work with him. I hope that by doing this volunteer work, it will have an impact on the kids in the program in that they might one day want to become an Intern or a Mentor in this program for our community. I am half Native American and half Caucasian. I have always been involved with my Native community at Santa Ana since birth, even though I live with my mom in Albuquerque. I have been involved with the Keres Language & Culture Program throughout my school years. This program offers youth the opportunity to learn the Keres language and learn about the culture of Santa Ana. I also represented Santa Ana Pueblo as a Cross-Country runner for NB3, the Notah Begay III foundation, where I qualified and competed at Regionals. I applied to a technical/trades college, WyoTech, in Wyoming, and plan to start there in 2025. This tech college teaches you a trade or a career like Welding and Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. This scholarship would bring help for tech college, and tech college would help me to achieve my career and life goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can in Welding, Diesel Technology, High Performance Engines, Metal Fabrication, and Automotive Technology. I plan on giving back to my community in the future by continuing to stay involved with my culture through traditional activities and continuing to volunteer with the Wellness Program after school and in the summer. Thank you for considering my scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

At the beginning of my freshman year, Mr. Fisher had two of his race cars up on the lifts in the automotive shop at my high school. I didn't know that by the middle of my senior year, he would be letting us students cut his two race cars into pieces with the plasma torch in order to build a new car out of the parts. Mr. Burton Fisher is my Automotive Technology teacher in the CTE program at my high school and he has significantly changed my direction for a future career because he has taught me just about everything I need to know in mechanics. At first, I wasn't fully interested in automotive technology, but with Mr. Fisher's good nature and jokes, I started becoming more interested in his class. He is playful at heart, but he also knows how to be very serious. He calls us out when we don't get our work done. At the end of the day, he makes us all laugh. When I first started Automotive Technology, Mr. Fisher had two race cars at school. By my sophomore year, he had a different race car than the first two. Then, by my junior year, he had a different one from the year before. That makes four race cars so far, which is very impressive. There probably aren't many high school students who can say that their teacher has four race cars. This semester, he has been guiding us in cutting off the fenders, roof, and trunk, down to the basic metal frame. One car had good body panels and a bad frame. The other car had a good frame with bad panels. Our goal is to make a single custom car out of the parts from two cars, like Frankenstein or a Franken-vehicle. During my high school years, I have become interested in all aspects of metal fabrication, welding, high performance engines, automotive technology, and restoration. I applied to my top choice technical/ trades college, WyoTech, and plan to start in July of 2025 as soon as I graduate from high school. My educational and career goals and objectives are to get as many technical certifications as I can. In the future I would like to have my own shop and restore old cars. I would also like to build drag cars and set records. This is the influence that Mr. Fisher has had on me. The best advice Mr. Fisher gave us was advice he learned from his own dad. He said he never really understood until he was in his 30s or 40s. 'If you're not fifteen minutes early, then you're late.' What he meant was that if you forgot to get gas or if you're hungry and want to run through the drive thru or if you have a flat tire that needs air, then you need that extra fifteen minutes just to be on time each day. This is a meaningful life lesson that I learned from Mr. Fisher. These are the reasons why Mr. Fisher is the best teacher I've had and why he has deeply influenced me to pursue the career path that I will follow in the future. Thank you for considering this scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

I have always been interested in taking things apart and fixing things. Whenever I got to high school and had my first Welding classes and Automotive classes in the CTE program, I figured out what I thought I might do in the future. It made me feel good to fix my own things. I applied to a technical/trades college, WyoTech, in Wyoming, this past summer before I started my Senior year. I was accepted and plan on starting at WyoTech in 2025. This tech college teaches you a trade or a career like Welding and Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. I want to learn everything I possibly can at WyoTech. My first two classes at WyoTech next year will be in Chassis Fabrication and Diesel Technology, and welding fundamentals are taught in these two main classes. My dream is to one day own my own automotive shop where I can restore old cars. I want to build them from the ground up. My dream is to restore an old Ford truck from the 1950s and to restore my grandpa's Ford Fairlane. I would also like to build a drag car and set records. This is where I see my future in welding, learning to fabricate and weld the parts needed to restore classic cars and to build roll cages for drag cars. I think that tech schools are as important as a regular college education. The main difference is the degree and the style of learning. A lot of people like me prefer to work with their own two hands, most of these people are mechanically inclined and would rather not work on papers and read books. That’s where these technical colleges come into play, the people that might not do so great on written tests have an easier time working with something in the real world instead of on paper or on a screen. This allows people to contribute to society and make a living. I think that Tech college will help me to achieve my career and life goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can in Welding, Metal Fabrication, Diesel Technology, High Performance Engines, and Automotive Technology. After WyoTech, I want to join the Coast Guard to serve my country, to give back and contribute. I just recently met with the Coast Guard recruiter who told me about career opportunities after boot camp. The first job opportunity is called Damage Controlman, who specializes in welding in the Engine Room and on-deck. The other opportunity is Machinery Technician specializing in gas and diesel boat engines. I am looking forward to these opportunities and my future in welding. Thank you for considering my scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

I have always been interested in taking things apart and fixing things. Whenever I got to high school and had my first Automotive class, I figured out what I thought I might do in the future. It made me feel good to fix my own things. I applied to a technical/ vocational school, WyoTech, in Wyoming, this past summer before I started my Senior year. I was accepted and plan on attending WyoTech next year, 2025. This tech school teaches you a trade or a career like Welding and Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. I need the knowledge to take something apart but also know exactly how it goes back together. I think that tech schools are as important as other types of education. The main difference is the degree/certification and the style of learning. A lot of people like me prefer to work with their own two hands, most of these people are mechanically inclined and would rather not work on papers and read books. That’s where these technical and trades schools come into play, the people that might not do so great on written tests may have an easier time working with something in the real world instead of on paper or on a screen. This allows people to contribute to society and make a living. My educational and career goals and objectives are to get as many technical certifications as I can in Welding, Diesel, High Performance Engines, Automotive, and Metal Fabrication. My goal is to attend WyoTech for more than the 9-month program I signed up for and to work my way through the other programs they offer. In the future, I would like to restore old cars, building them from the ground up. My dream is to restore an old Ford truck from the 1950s and I want to restore my Grandpa's Ford Fairlane. I also want to build a drag car and set records. I am applying for this scholarship because I could use the help for college. Any amount of financial assistance would help me to work toward my goals at tech school. My financial need is to bridge the gap between financial aid and tuition costs, so any amount helps. This scholarship could bring help for tech school, and this would help me to achieve my career and life goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can. After WyoTech, I want to join the Coast Guard to serve my country. A career in the Diesel or Automotive Trade would empower my future by helping me to qualify for specialty jobs in the Coast Guard. Tech school is important to my future to help me gain knowledge and once you gain knowledge, no one can ever take it away from you. Thank you for considering this scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

I have always been interested in taking things apart and fixing things, even before I could talk. Whenever I got to high school and had my first Automotive class and Welding class, I figured out what I thought I might do in the future. I have an aptitude for mechanics. I applied to a technical/ vocational college, WyoTech, in Wyoming, and plan on attending next year, 2025. This tech college teaches you a trade or a career like Welding and Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. Success and defining victory to me looks like: being dedicated to my future, building and restoring cars from the ground up, working hard to stay involved in my Native community, staying involved in high school sports, having the knowledge to take something apart but also know exactly how to put it back together, and learning everything I possibly can at WyoTech. My dream is to restore an old Ford truck from the 1950s and I to restore my grandpa's Ford Fairlane. My educational and career goals and objectives are to get as many technical certifications as I can in Diesel Technology, Welding, Metal Fabrication, High Performance Engines, and Automotive Technology. My main goal is to attend WyoTech long-term and to work my way through all of their programs. In the future I would like to have my own shop and restore old cars. I would also like to build a drag car and set records. After WyoTech, I want to join the Coast Guard to serve my country. Having certifications in Diesel, Welding, and Automotive would help me to qualify for specialty jobs in the Coast Guard. I think that tech schools are as important as a regular college education. The main difference is the degree/ certificate and the style of learning. A lot of people like me prefer to work with their own two hands, most of these people are mechanically inclined and would rather not work on papers and read books. That’s where these technical colleges come into play, the people that might not do so great on written tests have an easier time working with something in the real world instead of on paper or on a screen. This allows people to contribute to society and make a living. I am applying for this scholarship because I could use the help for college. This scholarship would bring help for tech college and tech college would give me the education and skills to achieve my career goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can. Technical college is important to me so that I can gain as much knowledge as possible. A career in the trades would empower my future by helping me to gain as many technical certifications as possible. Tech college is important to my future to help me gain knowledge and once you gain knowledge, no one can ever take it away from you. Thank you for considering my scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

My favorite athlete for Team USA is from the past, Billy Mills. He competed in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics in long distance running where he won Gold and he set a world record. He is my favorite athlete because of a few reasons. First, because he is Native American, and I am Native American. Alot of times Native American athletes are under-represented in professional sports and at the Olympics. It is inspiring to have a Native athlete to look up to. Second, he is my favorite Team USA athlete because of his underdog status. He was a college athlete who was basically unknown in the running world when he went to the Olympics and won Gold. This is why he stands out to me. He is inspiring as an athlete of good character because he went on to give back to his community by creating a foundation called Running Strong for Native American youth. This foundation still exists today and helps to support young people by keeping them active and offering support in nutrition and physical education. He also wrote an inspirational book called Wokini that teaches you how to improve your life. Billy Mills is one of the greatest athletes of all time and is one of the most talented athletes on the planet. Thank you for considering my scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

I am a big fan of LeBron James because of his massive influence on basketball as a sport. I believe LeBron is the best basketball player of all time because of the legacy that he continues to leave behind. I think that LeBron James is at the top of my top three personal favorites in basketball, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James. My mom was born and raised in Ohio, where LeBron was born and raised, so my whole Ohio family are LeBron James fans. There is a huge mural of him in Cleveland that takes up the whole side of a building, I don't know if it is still there because I live in New Mexico, but I saw the mural when I was younger and we were visiting downtown Cleveland. It is inspiring to see the mural of a legend of a basketball player who came from humble beginnings, with a teenage mom and not having a dad around. LeBron went on to be named the greatest high school basketball player in the nation when he was young, when he was still a teenager. Thank you for considering this scholarship application, I appreciate it! Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

My name is Gabe Montoya. I am from both Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am a Senior at Bernalillo High School. I am currently working as a Sports Leadership Intern after school at the Santa Ana Pueblo Wellness Program. I lead elementary school, mid-school & high school youth in physical activities. This internship is designed to guide kids in learning leadership skills through sports and physical activity. I am applying for this scholarship because I could use the help for college. I applied to a technical College, WyoTech, in Wyoming, this past summer before I started my Senior year. I was accepted. This tech college teaches you a trade or a career like Welding and Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. I would like to restore old cars, building a car from the ground up. My dream is to restore an old Ford truck from the 1950s. This scholarship would bring help for tech college, and tech college would help me to achieve my career and life goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can in Welding, Diesel, Fabrication, and Automotive. I think that tech schools are as important as a regular college education. The main difference is the degree and the style of learning. A lot of people like me prefer to work with their own two hands, most of these people are mechanically inclined and would rather not work on papers and read books. That’s where these technical colleges come into play, the people that might not do so great on written tests have an easier time working with something in the real world instead of on paper or on a screen. This allows people to contribute to society and make a living. I recently got my first car, a 1996 Ford Mustang, from a family friend who said the car hadn't run in eight years. He said that if I could get it running, then I could have it. The first thing I did was a compression test, and the engine came out looking good. After that, I disconnected the fuel fittings to clear the lines out with some air and gas. When I had the fuel lines disconnected, I tried cranking it to see the fuel come through, but it didn't so I got a new fuel pump and wired it up. I got my car to pump gas to the top of the engine. When I first cranked it up it was misfiring, but when I did my compression test I didn't mark where my spark wires went, so I switched two wires and it ran smooth again. I have always been interested in taking things apart and fixing things. Whenever I got to high school and had my first Automotive class, I figured out what I thought I might do in the future. It made me feel good to fix my own things, like when I started doing my own oil changes. After WyoTech, I want to join the Coast Guard to serve my country, to give back and contribute. The reason I would like to join the Coast Guard is because of the education they offer and because of the stability and benefits of military service. A successful life is one where you set goals and do your best to work towards them. I feel like I will be successful in my trade because I am dedicated to learning and doing. Thank you for considering my scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya

My name is Gabe Montoya. I am from both Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico and Albuquerque, New Mexico. I am a Senior at Bernalillo High School. I am currently working as a Sports Leadership and Education Intern after school at the Santa Ana Pueblo Wellness Program. I lead Santa Ana elementary school, mid-school & high school youth in physical activities. This internship is designed to guide kids in learning leadership skills through sports and physical activity. I am applying for this scholarship because I could use the help for college. I applied to a trades and technical College, WyoTech, in Wyoming, this past summer before I started my Senior year. I was accepted. This college teaches you a trade or a career like Welding and Mechanics. It is 90% hands-on learning and 10% classroom work, which is good for hands-on learners like me. I would like to restore old cars, building a car from the ground up. My dream is to restore an old Ford truck from the 1950s. This scholarship would bring help for tech college, and tech college would help me to achieve my career and life goals of getting as many technical certifications as I can in Welding, Diesel, Fabrication, and Automotive. I think that tech schools are as important as a regular college education. The main difference is the degree and the style of learning. A lot of people like myself prefer to work with their own two hands, most of these people are mechanically inclined and would rather not work on papers and read books. That’s where these technical colleges come into play, the people that might not do so great on written tests have an easier time working with something in the real world instead of on paper or on a screen. This allows people to contribute to society and make a living. After WyoTech, I want to join the Coast Guard to serve my country, to give back and contribute. The reason I would like to join the Coast Guard is because of the education they offer and because of the stability and benefits of military service. Thank you for considering my scholarship application. I appreciate it. Sincerely, Gabe Montoya